Other key figures, such as moderators and top vendors, were also apprehended. From June 11–13, 2025, Operation Deep Sentinel, led by Germany’s BKA and supported by Europol, Eurojust, Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) and law enforcement from five other countries, executed a coordinated takedown. Servers were seized in the Netherlands, digital assets frozen, and the suspected site administrator, a 30-year-old German, was arrested in Barcelona. In addition, authorities confiscated millions in cryptocurrency, luxury vehicles, phones, and drugs in sweeping raids. Over its five years in operation, Archetyp Market recorded over 612,000 users and facilitated €250 million worth of illicit sales.
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A total of approximately €7.8 million in assets was confiscated during the operation. The Dutch National Police successfully located and seized the server infrastructure hosting Archetyp Market at a data center in the Netherlands, effectively terminating the platform’s operations. Archetyp Market emerged as one of the darknet’s most prominent criminal trading platforms, facilitating the sale of various narcotics, including amphetamine, cannabis, fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.
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€7.8 million worth of assets were confiscated by the authorities, causing a massive dent in the criminal group’s total wealth. The confiscation is just a fraction of the total sum of money that flowed through the platform during the five years. The takedown required enormous global coordination, and the investigation was headed by German authorities. Successful operation depended on concurrent action in multiple countries in order to prevent the criminal network from escaping or destroying evidence.
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European law enforcement agencies have dismantled Archetyp Market, a long-running dark web platform used primarily for drug sales, following a coordinated international operation called Operation Deep Sentinel spanning six countries. The takedown brings an end to a major online drug marketplace that had operated largely uninterrupted for over five years. The dismantling of Archetyp Market marks a significant milestone in the ongoing battle against darknet drug trafficking.
Spanish police arrested the suspected 30-year-old German administrator in Barcelona. In Germany and Sweden, one moderator and six high-volume vendors were arrested. Europol said Archetyp had been one of the few darknet markets that allowed the sale of fentanyl and other highly potent synthetic opioids. A massive international law enforcement operation has seen one of the longest-standing dark web marketplaces finally taken offline. Many such marketplaces also host services that target everyday internet users, including malware-for-hire, stolen credentials, spyware kits, and identity data dumps.
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Archetyp Market is a relatively new darknet marketplace that has gained traction among users seeking a secure and anonymous platform to buy and sell various goods and services. This market offers a wide array of products, including drugs, counterfeit items, digital goods, and more. Archetyp Market is known for its strong security measures, such as mandatory Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) and end-to-end encryption to protect user data and communications. The platform supports multiple cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Monero, and Litecoin, which allows for secure and anonymous transactions between buyers and sellers. To access Archetyp Market, users must utilize the Tor network, which provides a high level of anonymity and privacy.
Archetyp Market Stands Out For Its Commitment To User Privacy And A Diverse Product Range
Authorities from six nations—Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Sweden, and the US—joined forces under Operation Deep Sentinel to dismantle Archetyp Market. The coordinated law enforcement actions took place between June 11 and 13, involving roughly 300 officers. German police spearheaded the effort, supported by Europol and Eurojust. The infrastructure was dismantled in the Netherlands, while arrests spanned Germany, Spain, and Sweden, including the suspected administrator—a 30-year-old German national arrested in Barcelona.
Conclusion: A Major Victory With Signal Effect
Operation Deep Sentinel is the latest international law enforcement collaboration against cybercrime, shutting down Archetyp – one of the largest dark web drug marketplaces. Last week, one of the dark web’s most prominent drug marketplaces—Archetyp—was shut down in an international, multi-agency law enforcement operation following years of investigations. Platform shutdowns can disrupt logistics, lead to arrests and seize goods, but they do not break apart the dark web’s recovery architecture. And so, the cycle continues – one closure followed by the next platform launch.
- If a vendor wants to become “trusted,” they apparently have to put up a decent chunk of cryptocurrency as a kind of insurance.
- Around 300 officers were deployed during the takedown, which resulted in the platform being taken offline, several arrests and the seizure of approximately €7.8m ($9m) in assets.
- Authorities took offline the marketplace’s infrastructure in the Netherlands and seized assets totaling €7.8 million.
- In total, the operation led to the seizure of 47 smartphones, 45 computers, large quantities of drugs, and assets worth €7.8 million.
- They were following the money trail, and analyzed digital forensic evidence, allowing them to determine key players and important locations.
What Awaits The Users? Buyers In The Crosshairs!
While few details have emerged about the other arrests, dark web users quickly began to analyze the now-removed official video of the operation released by the BKA. In some cases, established sellers on closed-down markets are welcomed onto new markets as digital “refugees” and have joining fees waived. Despite the fact Archetyp had clearly raised the bar on security on the dark web, Operation Deep Sentinel – a collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies in six countries supported by Europol and Eurojust – took down the market. The sense I got is that Archetype Market aspires to be a stable presence. The admins’ postings suggest they want to build a reputation and a loyal user base. They present themselves as professionals running a service, not as a hit-and-run outfit.
The operation was carried out between June and involved German, Dutch, Romanian, Spanish, and Swedish officials with the support of Europol and Eurojust. Around 300 officers participated in coordinated raids, targeting the most senior leaders of the platform and closing down its technological platform. During the same operation, Europol seized servers tied to the SmokeLoader botnet, a long-standing tool used by cybercriminals to deliver malware and steal sensitive data. Payments are only processed through Monero (XMR), ensuring that your financial transactions remain fully anonymous. We never store or share any personal information without explicit consent.
Monero’s privacy features make tracing transactions notoriously difficult, adding complexity to investigations. Yet, the successful seizure of infrastructure and key individuals proves that no system is invulnerable to coordinated, cross-border law enforcement efforts. As a result of the action, the platform’s infrastructure in the Netherlands was taken offline and its administrator – a 30-year-old German national – was arrested in Barcelona, Spain.
German and Swedish authorities also took aim at the marketplace’s support system, arresting one moderator and six of the site’s highest-volume sellers. Those vendors had completed thousands of orders of drugs and raked in millions of dollars in revenue for the criminal organization. Europol dismantles major Dark Web drug hub Archetyp in a coordinated international operation that led to multiple arrests. The operation followed years of investigation into the platform’s network and operations.
