Two so-called “dark Web” sites dedicated to illegal drug and arms sales have been seized in an audacious sting operation, and the suspected ringleader has committed suicide, U.S. Justice Department officials said Thursday. Canadian Alexandre Cazes, 25, who was suspected of creating an illegal online marketplace called AlphaBay, was arrested by Thai authorities earlier this month. European and American law enforcement authorities conducted an elaborate operation designed to fool AlphaBay users into revealing themselves. The investigators shut down AlphaBay in a manner deliberately crafted to look like a heist. AlphaBay provided users with ways to mask transfers of digital currency payments, according to the federal indictment naming Cazes.

Source: Los Angeles Times July 20, 2017 15:10 UTC