The U.S. Department of Justice and Europol announced Thursday the results of Operation TorNado, an international crackdown on Dark Web drug vendors that led to 354 arrests and the seizure of more than $234 million in cash and virtual currency. Two of the federal cases announced involve defendants arrested in Florida.
The Justice Department, working through its Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement team, known as JCODE, said the operation ran from May 2025 to October 2026 across the United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Officials called it the largest takedown in JCODE’s history and the sixth internationally coordinated action since the team formed in 2018.
What investigators seized
Authorities seized about 5.7 metric tons of illicit drugs worldwide, including fentanyl and other opioids, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and MDMA. They also took 38 pill presses and 209 firearms.
Investigators said the vendors and buyers were active on Dark Web markets that law enforcement had already seized, including Archetyp, Bohemia, Nemesis, Kingdom and Tor2Door. Agents also tied vendor accounts on markets such as DrugHub and Archetyp to real people. The defendants made tens of thousands of sales of illicit goods and services, according to the announcement.
The operation builds on last year’s Operation RapTor. Officials said intelligence gathered after that takedown set off a series of separate but related investigations. Some are still open as agents work to identify the people behind Dark Web accounts.
Arrests by country
The United States accounted for 132 of the arrests. The rest broke down as follows:
- United Kingdom: 59
- Hungary: 45
- Germany: 41
- France: 23
- New Zealand: 13
- Netherlands: 12
- Slovenia: 11
- Austria: 6
- Ireland: 5
- Czechia: 4
- Australia: 2
- Finland: 1
Florida cases
Authorities arrested 30-year-old Stanislav Chernyshov, a Russian national the Justice Department said is living in the United States illegally, and his brother, 35-year-old Vladislav Chernyshov, a naturalized U.S. citizen, in Florida. Prosecutors say the pair ran the Dark Web vendor “BarbaraWhite,” which sold counterfeit oxycodone M30 pills laced with nitazenes, synthetic opioids that can match or exceed the potency of fentanyl.
Lab analyses, covert purchases and surveillance tied the brothers to a clandestine pill-making and mailing operation, according to the announcement. Officials said it shipped more than 1,000 parcels to 49 states, and that investigators identified multiple fatal and non-fatal overdoses among recipients. The brothers face a conspiracy charge in the Eastern District of Virginia and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
In June, authorities also arrested 30-year-old Eric Turner of Lizella, Georgia, and 29-year-old Jose Smith of Valrico, Florida. Prosecutors say the two ran a Dark Web drug organization that sold bulk heroin and fentanyl under the names Postmates and FuegoPacksXpress. They are charged in the Middle District of Florida with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin.
Searches of their residences turned up 4.5 kilograms of heroin, 22 grams of fentanyl, MDMA and alprazolam tablets, and 25 firearms, the Justice Department said. They face a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted.
Cases elsewhere in the U.S.
The announcement also listed cases in North Carolina, California and New Jersey. In one, prosecutors charged 35-year-old Jonatan Gonzales of South Bakersfield, California, with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Investigators said they seized 48 pounds of methamphetamine, along with cocaine, black tar heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil and $40,565 in cash, from his residence.
In New Jersey, five men face state charges in Bergen County in connection with a distribution cell. Investigators seized about 300 kilograms of counterfeit Xanax, MDMA, ketamine and other controlled substances from several locations.
Officials weigh in
“Nothing will stop the Trump Administration from identifying and dismantling drug trafficking networks,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. He said the work through JCODE “crippled Dark Web market vendors and will bring alleged drug traffickers to justice.”
“The success of the Operation TorNado makes clear that criminals cannot hide behind technology or geography – no matter where you operate, justice will find you,” said FBI Director Kash Patel.
“Whether they operate on the streets or behind anonymous online accounts, DEA will use every available investigative tool to dismantle these organizations and bring those responsible to justice,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Terrance Cole.
JCODE members that took part include the Department of Justice, the FBI, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations, ATF and several other federal agencies. Local and state agencies also contributed. Europol, Eurojust and police agencies across Europe, Australia and New Zealand supported the investigations.
Arrests and charges are accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless convicted in court. Readers can find more on the region’s fentanyl cases in our ongoing coverage.