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Crimenetwork, Germany’s largest online criminal marketplace, was shut down by authorities, resulting in the arrest of an administrator. The platform facilitated the sale of illegal goods and services, including drugs, forged documents, hacking tools, and stolen data, since 2012. The takedown signifies a significant blow to cybercrime in the German-speaking region.

This cluster involves incidents related to the takedown of various criminal communication platforms. The MATRIX encrypted messaging service, used by criminals for illegal activities, was dismantled in an international operation involving French and Dutch authorities, supported by Eurojust and Europol. The criminals were monitored for months before the operation was conducted. This demonstrates the continued efforts to disrupt and counteract criminal activity online through international cooperation.

Operation HAECHI V, a global cybercrime operation involving 40 countries, resulted in over 5,500 arrests and the seizure of over \$400 million in assets. The operation targeted various financial crimes, including phishing, romance scams, sextortion, and business email compromise (BEC).