Global Law Enforcement Operation Shuts Down Over 373,000 Dark Web Sites in Major Cybercrime Crackdown

On 9 March 2026, a global law enforcement operation led by German authorities and supported by Europol targeted a major dark web cybercrime network. The investigation, initiated in mid-2021, focused on the dark web platform "Alice with Violence CP" and resulted in the shutdown of over 373,000 fraudulent dark web sites. The operation was coordinated internationally, though specific jurisdictions beyond Germany and Europol were not detailed. No technical indicators (e.g., CVE IDs) or additional impact metrics (e.g., arrests, seized assets) were provided in the report. The crackdown represents one of the largest takedowns of dark web infrastructure to date.