171/69 Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Law enforcement agencies from 23 countries, led by German authorities and Europol, have successfully carried out “Operation Alice”, targeting one of the largest fraudulent networks on the dark web. The operation resulted in the takedown of more than 373,000 onion domains. The investigation began in 2021, initially focusing on a platform known as “Alice with Violence CP,” and later revealed that a single operator was behind a vast network of websites designed to conceal identity and evade detection.
Investigators found that these websites were used to advertise illegal content and services, including child sexual abuse material, stolen credit card data, and various cybercrime services. However, the platform primarily functioned as a scam operation, tricking users into making payments in Bitcoin without delivering any actual content. The main suspect, identified as a 35-year-old Chinese national, is believed to have operated up to 287 servers at peak activity, with 105 servers located in Germany, leading to the issuance of an international arrest warrant.
As a result of the operation, authorities seized multiple servers and identified 440 users worldwide, with over 100 individuals currently under investigation. Europol emphasized that even attempting to purchase illegal content-regardless of whether it was actually delivered-can be sufficient grounds for suspicion and investigation. The agency also played a key role in coordinating intelligence sharing, tracking cryptocurrency transactions, and supporting efforts to identify and prosecute those involved in the network.