James Ding
March 08, 2025 02:25
The US Treasury OFAC sanctioned an Iran-based Marketplace-based Marketplace administrator to facilitate world fetanyl sales, highlighting the in-depth use of cryptocurrencies in illegal drugs.
The US Ministry of the Treasury of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Behrouz Parsarad, the Némes-Darknet market administrator based in Iran, for its role in the facilitation of the sale of fentanyl and other drugs worldwide. This designation includes 44 Bitcoin addresses (BTC) and 5 Monero addresses associated with Parsarad, according to Chain-analysis.
Nemesis’ Role in the Darknet ecosystem
Nemesis, created by Parsarad in 2021, served as a platform for drug traffickers and cybercriminals, allowing the sale of nearly $ 30 million in fentanyl and other illegal substances until its servers were seized in March 2024 by authorities in the United States, Germany and Lithuania. The market had more than 30,000 active users and 1,000 suppliers, not only facilitating the sale of drugs, but also the exchange of false identification documents and hacking services.
Parsarad cryptocurrency transactions
Parsarad chain activity reveals important links with other Darknet markets (DNM), such as the ASAP market and the incognito market. Between July 2022 and March 2024, its BTC portfolios received more than $ 850,000, with transactions exceeding $ 1.6 million, indicating the strategic use of bitcoin price fluctuations to improve the value of its assets. Although it was based in Iran, Parsarad’s operations have shown no direct link on the channel with Iranian services, highlighting efforts to hide its activities in a country where drug offenses are seriously punished.
OFAC global efforts against fentanyl trade
The latest OFAC designation highlights the commitment of the American authorities to dismantle the fentanyl global supply chain, extending their objective beyond the Chine-Mexico corridor to include activities emanating from Iran. This decision also marks the inaugural action of the OFAC as part of the joint joint team of opioids and Darknet, signaling a complete strategy to combat illicit activities on the chain linked to regional indicators and cyber-menaces.
Following the withdrawal of Namesis, Parsarad would have planned to establish a new DNM, maintaining links with the old suppliers. Developments reflect continuous challenges in reducing the proliferation of Darknet markets and their role in global drug trafficking networks.
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