International Law Enforcement Dismantles Archetyp Dark Web Drug Marketplace

An international law enforcement operation, codenamed "Operation Deep Sentinel," successfully dismantled Archetyp, one of the dark web’s largest drug marketplaces, in June 2025. The operation spanned six countries and resulted in the seizure of €7.8 million in assets, including cryptocurrency, smartphones, computers, luxury vehicles, and narcotics. The coordinated effort involved authorities from Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Romania, and the United States, with support from Europol and Eurojust.

Archetyp, launched in May 2020, had grown into a significant player in the dark web drug trade, facilitating over €250 million in illicit drug sales. The platform boasted more than 600,000 registered users and over 3,200 vendors, offering a range of illegal substances including heroin, cocaine, MDMA, amphetamines, cannabis, and synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. The operation led to the arrest of eight individuals, including the site’s 30-year-old German administrator, who was apprehended in Barcelona. Additional arrests included one moderator and six high-volume vendors in Germany and Sweden.

The platform’s technical infrastructure was hosted in the Netherlands, where it was dismantled during the June raid. Investigators utilized advanced financial tracing and digital forensic tools to identify Archetyp’s key operators and infrastructure. Europol deployed a dark web specialist to support German authorities on the ground, while Eurojust facilitated legal coordination and cross-border warrants. Officials believe the operation delivered a significant blow to international darknet drug trafficking networks. However, experts caution that similar platforms often reemerge quickly under new names or adapt to enforcement tactics.

Operation Deep Sentinel is part of a sustained crackdown on illicit digital drug trade across Europe and beyond. Previous high-profile darknet takedowns in 2025 include Nemesis, Bohemia, and Kingdom Market. The success of Operation Deep Sentinel underscores the growing international cooperation and advanced investigative techniques used to combat dark web criminal activities. Despite these efforts, the resilience and adaptability of darknet markets pose ongoing challenges for law enforcement agencies worldwide.