Dutch prosecutors target 21-year-old dark-web mastermind tied to drugs and CSAM

The Dutch Public Prosecution Service is demanding a three-year prison sentence against a 21-year-old man from England for running a dark web marketplace called Bohemia/Cannabia.

According to the Public Prosecution Service, Bohemia/Cannabia used to be the world’s largest illegal marketplace on the dark web. Sellers could anonymously trade in hard drugs, soft drugs, medicines, and, for example, DDoS attacks.

The investigation into Bohemia/Cannabia began in August 2022, when police officers discovered that the dark web marketplace was partially running on servers located in the Netherlands.

Shortly thereafter, detectives identified a 21-year-old British man, who supposedly was one of the key players running the marketplace. Police officers arrested him at Schiphol Airport on June 27th, 2024, as he flew in.

Detectives found crucial evidence of his role with Bohemia/Cannabia on his laptop and phones. Police also secured 31 bitcoins, which were worth €1.7 million at the time.

The investigation showed that the British man was only 19 years old when he first began writing scripts for the criminal organization behind Bohemia/Cannabia. Because of his technical skills, he quickly assumed a more prominent role, setting up, managing, and securing the online drug market. In 2023, he was even appointed a partner.

The man used so-called “bulletproof servers” to create the dark web marketplace on the Tor network. Bulletproof hosters promise their customers not to cooperate with any requests from law enforcement authorities.

Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the suspect was setting up an online casino, renting luxurious accommodations, and traveling by private jet. The man discussed all of this with his brother.

Lastly, police found child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on the suspect’s Telegram account. He paid for these images with bitcoin. Therefore, he’s also on trial for possession of child pornography.

“Although the suspect himself claims that his young age drew him into crime, the Public Prosecution Service sees things differently. His participation in the organization behind Bohemia was not an isolated incident. The market had been active for at least 2.5 years, during which time he worked day and night and earned a lot of money. He also lived accordingly,” the Public Prosecution Service says in a public statement.

The Rotterdam Court will give its ruling in two weeks.

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