The criminal online marketplace “Crimenetwork” has been shut down. This information was released by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Frankfurt am Main – Central Unit for Combating Internet Crime (ZIT), and the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA). Furthermore, a 35-year-old German national was arrested in Mallorca after allegedly constructing and administering a new technical infrastructure just days after the shutdown of the predecessor platform in December 2024.
The suspect is accused of reviving the platform under the name “Crimenetwork”. It is alleged that the site offered a wide range of illegal goods and services, including stolen data, drugs, and forged documents. According to police reports, the platform reportedly counted over 22,000 users and more than 100 sellers most recently. Law enforcement agencies successfully secured extensive data material, which suggests a total turnover exceeding 3.6 million euros. Additionally, approximately 194,000 euros in assets were provisionally seized.
The arrest was carried out by a special unit of the Spanish National Police based on a European Arrest Warrant. The individual is suspected of operating criminal trading platforms on the internet, as well as trafficking controlled substances in large quantities. The investigation was conducted through close cooperation with Spanish and Moldovan authorities, with support from Eurojust. Several other German agencies were involved, including the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Karlsruhe, and the police departments in Offenburg and Reutlingen.
