Iranian darknet site linked to deadly Fentanyl supply to America

This new method of harm, not through traditional weaponry but through narcotics, has alarmed law enforcement and health officials alike.

Nemesis operated on the dark web for over three years, hidden from the public eye and accessible only to those with specialized browsers designed to mask user identities and locations. The platform boasted 1,000 vendors offering illicit products including narcotics, counterfeit identification documents, and hacking services. It facilitated an astonishing $30 million in sales over its lifespan.

The mastermind behind this operation was Behrouz Parsarad, a criminal from Iran who remained beyond the reach of American authorities. As the sole operator, Parsarad designed, controlled, and funded the marketplace. However, international efforts to shut down Nemesis culminated in a raid in March, resulting in the seizure of its servers. The takedown revealed over 150,000 user accounts and more than 1,100 seller accounts registered on the site.

What raised the most concern was Nemesis's role in the sale of fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid that has been the primary driver behind tens of thousands of overdose deaths in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an estimated 74,702 overdose fatalities from fentanyl last year alone. Fentanyl is considered 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, with just 2 milligrams being a fatal dose.

Despite the takedown, Parsarad’s criminal activities have not been stopped. Intelligence gathered after the raid indicates that he is still in contact with his network of vendors and is attempting to relaunch the marketplace. In response, U.S. Treasury officials moved quickly to impose sanctions on Parsarad’s American assets, including 49 cryptocurrency wallets linked to his illicit dealings.

Bradley T. Smith, Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, emphasized the ongoing threat, stating, “Parsarad sought to build—and continues to try to re-establish—a safe haven for illegal narcotics like fentanyl. We will use every tool at our disposal to dismantle these dark web marketplaces and hold individuals like him accountable."

The takedown of Nemesis is a significant victory in the battle against the online drug trade, but it also highlights the persistence of those behind these dangerous operations. Authorities are working relentlessly to prevent the resurgence of these criminal networks and protect the American public from the deadly impact of fentanyl.