German authorities have successfully shut down a re-launched version of the criminal marketplace **Crimenetwork**, seizing assets and arresting its operator. The marketplace had generated more than €3.6 million through illegal activities. ## Crimenetwork's History **Crimenetwork** was a significant online cybercrime marketplace in Germany since 2012, boasting around 100,000 registered users. The platform was notorious for enabling the trade of illicit services, illegal substances, and stolen data. In late 2024, a collaborative effort between the Public Prosecutor's Office in Frankfurt am Main, the Central Office for Combating Cybercrime (**ZIT**), and the Federal Criminal Police Office (**BKA**) led to the initial takedown of the platform and the arrest of one of its administrators. However, a new version of **Crimenetwork** quickly surfaced, hosted on a new infrastructure and managed by a different operator. ## Swift Reboot Attempt Foiled Earlier this week, a 35-year-old German man, suspected of administering the rebooted **Crimenetwork**, was apprehended at his residence in Mallorca, Spain. The arrest was executed by a special unit of the Spanish National Police under a European arrest warrant. “The suspect is accused of having built and administered a completely new technical infrastructure only a few days after the shutdown of the previous version of Crimenetwork and the arrest of its former administrator in December 2024, also naming it Crimenetwork,” the **BKA** stated in a press release. The relaunched cybercrime platform mirrored the offerings of its predecessor, providing a similar array of illicit goods and services. It rapidly attracted 22,000 users and over 100 vendors. Evidence gathered during the police operation indicates that the new version of **Crimenetwork** generated at least €3.6 million ($4.2 million) in revenue. Authorities also seized approximately €194,000 ($228,000) in allegedly illicit assets and secured substantial user and transaction data for further investigations. ## Law Enforcement's Stance “The reboot of Crimenetwork has failed, and another administrator will have to answer before a German court,” stated Carsten Meywirth, Director at the Federal Criminal Police in Germany. “Together with our national and international partners, we consistently enforce the law even in the darknet. Cybercrime does not pay.” The following banner was displayed on the seized online portal, informing visitors of the law enforcement action.  **Seizure banner** *Source: BKA* The arrested administrator faces charges under Section 127 of the German Criminal Code and Sections 29a and 30a of the German Narcotics Act, carrying potential prison sentences. In March, the operator of the original **Crimenetwork** marketplace received a sentence of seven years and 10 months in prison and was ordered to forfeit over €10 million in criminal proceeds. However, the ruling is not yet final.