New York (AFP)

An operation targeting the "dark web", a hidden part of the internet, has led to the arrest of 179 suspected sellers of opiate drugs and other illicit goods in Europe and the United States, the United States Department of Justice announced on Tuesday. the European police agency Europol.

A total of 119 people have been arrested in the United States, two in Canada, 42 in Germany, eight in the Netherlands, four in the United Kingdom, three in Austria and one in Sweden, the US ministry and Europol said in a report. joint press release.

According to them, the suspects were engaged in tens of thousands of sales of illicit products on the "dark web", which is teeming with illegal activity.

The operation, in which various US government agencies including the FBI were involved, resulted in the seizure of more than $ 6.5 million (€ 5.5 million) in cash and digital currencies.

In particular, the police seized some 500 kilos of opiates, including fentanyl, oxycodone and heroin, as well as around 60 firearms.

"For a growing number of young drug addicts, opiates are no longer purchased from local traffickers, but from online dealers," said Jeffrey Rosen, US Deputy Minister of Justice, during a press briefing.

"These dark net markets are growing in popularity at an alarming rate, and allow drug dealers to openly advertise and take orders from all over the world," he added.

Overdoses with opiates, and in particular with fentanyl, considered to be 50 times more powerful than heroin, are one of the main causes of death in the United States.

In 2018, they accounted for some 70% of the more than 67,000 overdose deaths in the United States.

While many measures have been taken in recent years to curb dependence on these substances, which were initially painkillers for medical use only, Canada and some thirty American states have reported an increase in opioid overdoses with the pandemic. of coronavirus.

The announcement of these arrests "sends a strong message" to criminals active on the "dark web", believes Edvardas Šileris, head of Europol's European Cybercrime Center.

“The hidden internet is no longer hidden and your anonymous activity is not anonymous. Law enforcement agencies are determined to hunt down criminals no matter where they operate - whether it is on the street or behind a screen. 'computer, "Šileris said, quoted in the statement.

© 2020 AFP