Italian National Arrested for Hiring Hitman on Dark Web
Europol recently announced the arrest of an Italian national who allegedly paid €10,000 in Bitcoin through a dark web site to have their ex-girlfriend murdered. The suspect accessed a website on the TOR network that offered assassination services.
Law Enforcement Collaboration
The European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) and Joint Cybercrime Action Taskforce (J-CAT) collaborated with the Italian Postal and Communication Police (Polizia Postale e delle Comunicazioni) to apprehend the individual. Through advanced crypto-analysis, the authorities were able to identify the cryptocurrency service provider used by the suspect, ultimately leading to the arrest.
Preventing Tragedy
Thanks to the swift actions of law enforcement, the target’s life was saved. The speed and efficiency of the investigation were crucial in preventing a tragic outcome.
Rising Trend in Contract Killings
Europol’s report from February highlighted an alarming trend of organized crime groups resorting to violence, with a rise in younger and less experienced hitmen offering their services at lower costs. Contract killings now range between €10,000 and €100,000, depending on the country.
The report also noted that hired assassins often operate independently from organized crime groups, making them harder to track.
Dark Web Hitman Services
While the use of dark web sites to advertise murder-for-hire services is not new, arrests in such cases are relatively rare. In a separate incident from August 2020, a man from New Jersey was charged with hiring a hitman for $20,000 in Bitcoin to kill a minor. However, this plot was uncovered after the suspect had already been arrested on other charges.
It’s important to note that dark web hitman sites may sometimes be set up as scams to extort money from individuals seeking illegal services.