Landmark Dark Web Drug Case Concludes with 30-Year Sentence
A U.S. federal court in New York has delivered a landmark ruling in one of the largest dark web drug trafficking cases since the Silk Road takedown. The defendant, 24-year-old Taiwanese national Rui-Siang Lin, received a 30-year prison sentence for orchestrating an illicit online marketplace that facilitated millions in illegal narcotics transactions.
How Did Authorities Crack the Anonymity?
Despite using advanced encryption and anonymity tools to hide his identity, the operator of the platform left digital footprints that eventually led to his exposure. Investigators pieced together domain registration records, cryptocurrency trails, and online activity to link Lin to the platform.
- Charged with conspiracy to distribute narcotics
- Money laundering violations
- Conspiracy to sell misbranded drugs
Operating under the alias 'Pharaoh', Lin pleaded guilty in December 2024 to all counts. Between October 2020 and March 2024, the marketplace facilitated over 640,000 transactions totaling more than $105 million in illicit drug trade, affecting buyers across the globe.