AlphaBay: World's largest dark web site is shut down

Law enforcement seized AlphaBay earlier this month.

The US Government has shut down two of the world's largest markets on the dark web, a hidden corner of the internet often associated with the sale of illegal weapons and drugs.

The US Department of Justice confirmed on Thursday that it had shuttered the illicit AlphaBay and Hansa websites following a "landmark" investigation involving law enforcement from around the world.

AlphaBay and Hansa were associated with the trade of illegal goods such as drugs, guns, personal data stolen in hacks, and computer viruses. There were more than 40,000 sellers on AlphaBay who were advertising around 250,000 items of illegal drugs and chemicals, according to Europol.

Jeff Sessions, US attorney general warned criminals using the dark internet to trade in illegal goods that they "cannot hide".

"This is likely one of the most important criminal investigations of the year taking down the largest dark net marketplace in history," said Sessions. "The dark net is not a place to hide. We will find you."

He added that numerous people had died as a result of drugs sold on the online markets, which include heroin and fentanyl.

"We know of several Americans who were killed by drugs on AlphaBay," said Jeff Sessions, US attorney general. "One victim was just 18 years old when in February she overdosed on a powerful synthetic opioid which she had bought on AlphaBay."

The investigation was headed by the FBI, US Drug Enforcement Agency and the Dutch police, with assistance from countries including the UK, France and Lithuania.

"The capability of drug traffickers and other serious criminals around the world has taken a serious hit today," said Rob Wainwright, Europol's chief executive.

Reports of AlphaBay being shut down started circulating earlier this month. The site went dark following the arrest of a Canadian man in Bangkok. The 26-year-old Alexandre Cazes suspected of running AlphaBay died in custody in Thailand earlier this week.

Dutch police seized control of the Hansa site in June and closed it this month.

The operation is reminiscent of the 2013 closure of Silk Road, the first popular dark web marketplace, following the arrest of creator Ross Ulbricht. AlphaBay was created in the void left by Silk Road.