Massive Pygmalion Dark Web Shop Seizure by German Officials Exposing Drug Deals and Onion Addresses

• The darknet market Pygmalion and its onion addresses have been seized by the German law enforcement 
• They arrested four individuals and found stored information of over 7,250 transactions
• The operation and investigations are ongoing and have led to the seizure of heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine

After months of investigation and raids, the German officials seized the dark web shop Pygmalion. They also arrested four individuals, including three men and a woman between the age group of 24 to 56, suspected of being a part of the illegal packaging and shipping of narcotics around the globe.

The individuals were arrested from the Eichstätt district and the town of Neuburg an der Donau. They used the web shop to connect with buyers and sell drugs all over the world.

The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), on behalf of the Bavarian Central Office for the Prosecution of Cybercrime (ZCB), managed to take control of the stored online content, presumably of victims, clients, sellers, and others involved.

A joint press release by the Bamberg Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office (BLKA) read that the investigations were based on clues from a separate investigation and linking crimes together to reach a multi-level perpetrator structure.

This was between the Thuringia State Criminal Police Office, the BLKA, and North Rhine-Westphalia, among others. 

While the investigations are ongoing, the group members were found exchanging messages and affirming that they will continue their operations despite the police action. 

A note read, “You’ve already heard from the BKA: Our shop has been seized. Normally, this wouldn’t be possible, since we’re behind Tor—but Pygmalion had access to the server.” 

“This means it’s safe to assume that customer data is now in the hands of the authorities,” the note further read. Rightly so, as the logs containing records of over 7,250 transactions maintained by the group were also seized. 

They hinted that members and customers keep their feet still and clean their houses as soon as possible. “We don't plan on stopping, even though this was a huge blow for all of us,” the pastebin message concluded.

The police are investigating the customer records found in evidence, which date back to April 2024.

In this operation, the officials halted the delivery of narcotics to worldwide consumers. For this, they collaborated with the Ingolstadt Criminal Investigation Department and a postal service provider, and several mail shipments carrying narcotics.

After raiding five locations, they seized 53 kilograms of narcotics, 30 kilograms of methamphetamine, 2 kilograms of heroin, 4 kilograms of cocaine, 150,000 tablets, and approximately 7,000 vacuum-sealed bags estimated to be in the low seven-digit euro range. 

If found purchasing drugs online, the culprit will be subject to criminal prosecution. They can be traced using the logs of purchase on the dark web found in the raids.