6 UK citizens have recently been arrested on suspicion of being involved in running the Internet drug marketplace Silk Road 2.0 and another illegal portal. This was a result of a joint EU and US operation, which took place in 17 countries and targeted more than 400 illegal sites and services that have not been accessible via normal search engines or by typing out standard web addresses.

The British police revealed that they are going to arrest more UK nationals involved in online trade of illegal drugs, forged documents and firearms. Last week, the American law enforcement agencies announced they arrested the alleged operator of Silk Road 2.0, Blake Benthall. As you may remember, the first Silk Road marketplace was taken down a year ago for facilitating anonymous trading of illegal goods like drugs and other controlled or illegal products.

The alleged operator of the original service, Ross William Ulbricht, is now awaiting trial in the US, denying all the charges against him. Shortly after that, the Silk Road twin emerged to continue trading. Some believe that administrators of the original service resurrected it.

Now, 6 Britons were arrested, a large amount of computer equipment was seized and will be examined. All of them have been bailed after being interviewed. The police revealed that 40 digital investigators have collaborated on Silk Road takedown to date. The 6-month-long investigation resulted in seizure of drugs, guns, and €180,000 in cash, gold and silver, plus $1m worth of Bitcoins. The police have also shut down such services as Cloud Nine, Hydra, BlueSky, Outlaw Market and Alpaca.

As for the arrested Britons, the police confirmed they are suspected of setting up Silk Road 2.0 or of trading illegal drugs. The law authorities continue to investigate individuals involved in establishing and profiting from the illegal marketplaces. They also warned that criminals mistakenly believe that the dark web can provide them a safe, anonymous haven, but in reality they remain the organized crime network.

Now the representatives of law enforcement all claim that the Internet and other communications platforms increasingly become a safe haven for criminality, thus damaging its integrity.