Enlarge image
Server racks in the illegal data center
Photo: PRESS OFFICE LANDESKRIMINALAMT RHEINLAND-PALATINATE / HANDOUT / EPA-EFE / REX
A good two years after the "cyber bunker" on the Moselle was blown up, there have so far been 227 follow-up proceedings against customers of the illegal data center for criminal transactions on the Darknet. Most of them had to be stopped because there were no investigative approaches to identify the customers, as Chief Public Prosecutor Jörg Angerer from the State Central Office for Cybercrime at the Koblenz Public Prosecutor's Office said. In some proceedings, the investigations are still ongoing.
The cyberbunker trial will come to an end this Monday with a verdict (read more here).
Eight defendants have had to answer before the Trier Regional Court since October 2020: They are accused of having operated a data center for illegal websites in an old bunker in Traben-Trarbach on the Moselle as a criminal organization for years.
According to the indictment, they have committed aiding and abetting more than 240,000 crimes.
After five years of investigation, the underground facility was excavated at the end of September 2019 as part of a large-scale operation involving hundreds of police officers.
Follow-up proceedings follow follow-up proceedings
The largest follow-up proceedings from the cyberbunker complex were the proceedings against the operator of the "DarkMarket" platform, Angerer told the German press agency.
The platform was raised as one of the world's largest trading venues on the darknet in January 2021.
Here a man and a woman will have to answer before the Trier District Court from December 16: "DarkMarket" is said to have been used to deal with drugs, counterfeit money and stolen and counterfeit credit cards.
At least 320,000 transactions worth more than 140 million euros were carried out according to the indictment.
more on the subject
Aid to 249,000 criminal offenses?: Judgment in the »cyberbunker« trial is imminent
Darknet control center on the Moselle: In the bunker of evil
Cyberbunker operators in court: What to expect from the largest darknet process in GermanyBy Max Hoppenstedt and Judith Horchert
The "Dark HunTOR" operation, in which around 150 arrests were made around the world, said the chief public prosecutor, was in turn the result of the "DarkMarket" procedure.
The campaign was aimed specifically at providers and buyers on darknet platforms, i.e. online marketplaces for illegal goods.
Angerer said it is currently not foreseeable whether there will be any further charges.
mak / dpa
