German Charged over Darknet Drug Marketplace

German federal prosecutors have charged a 31-year-old German man accused of founding and operating the Archetyp Market platform. According to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), it was the largest darknet drug marketplace until it was shut down in 2025.

Investigators say that between November 2022 and the platform's closure, around 2.3 million orders worth approximately €330m ($380m) were placed. The marketplace had around 600,000 customer accounts, 3,000 vendors and more than 17,000 listings. Payments were made exclusively in cryptocurrencies.

According to investigators, the platform facilitated the sale of around 3.2 million tablets and 326 liters of narcotic substances, including cocaine, fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine. Cannabis products, prescription medications, performance-enhancing drugs and new psychoactive substances were also available.

Prosecutors allege the defendant kept a commission of around 5% on each sale, earning roughly €20m ($23m) in fees. He was arrested in Barcelona in June 2025 and has remained in pretrial detention in Germany since then. Investigators also seized cryptocurrencies, cash and luxury vehicles worth around €10m ($12m). If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.

(welt, bak)