The Department of Justice, through the Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement (JCODE) team, joined Europol to announce the results of Operation TorNado, a coordinated, multi-agency and international law enforcement effort targeting criminal enterprises that use Dark Web markets to traffic fentanyl, opioids and other illicit drugs. The operation was conducted across the United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
Operation TorNado represents the sixth, and most extensive, internationally coordinated action since JCODE was created in 2018. It builds on the success of last year's Operation RapTor.
The operation included actions against Dark Web vendors and buyers who were active on prominent Dark Web drug markets seized by law enforcement, including Archetyp, Bohemia, Nemesis, Kingdom and Tor2Door.
354 arrests and major seizures
Operation TorNado resulted in the arrest of 354 Dark Web drug traffickers and fraudulent criminals who engaged in tens of thousands of sales of illicit goods and services across the United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Authorities seized over $234 million in cash and virtual currencies, approximately 5.7 metric tons of illicit drugs worldwide, 38 pill presses and 209 firearms. The drugs included fentanyl and other opioids, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and MDMA.
The arrests break down as follows: 132 in the United States, two in Australia, six in Austria, four in Czechia, one in Finland, 23 in France, 41 in Germany, 45 in Hungary, five in Ireland, 12 in the Netherlands, 13 in New Zealand, 11 in Slovenia and 59 in the United Kingdom. A number of investigations are still ongoing to identify the individuals behind Dark Web accounts.
"Nothing will stop the Trump Administration from identifying and dismantling drug trafficking networks," said Attorney General Todd Blanche.
"Operation TorNado is the largest interagency takedown of Dark Web drug vendors and buyers to date, resulting in 354 arrests worldwide, including 132 in the United States," said FBI Director Kash Patel.
Federal prosecutions
The operation, which spanned from May 2025 to October 2026, resulted in dozens of federal prosecutions. Stanislav Chernyshov, 30, a Russian national illegally residing in the United States, and his brother Vladislav Chernyshov, 35, a naturalized U.S. citizen, were arrested in Florida for allegedly operating Dark Web vendor "BarbaraWhite," which sold counterfeit oxycodone M30 pills laced with highly potent nitazenes. They are charged with conspiracy to distribute Schedule I synthetic opioids in the Eastern District of Virginia and each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted.
Alexander Green, 32, a U.S. citizen of Jacksonville, North Carolina, and formerly of Hazlet, New Jersey, was arrested in June for operating the STARLABS Cyber-Enabled Drug Trafficking Organization on the Monero-only Dark Web market Drughub. The organization has been linked to two overdose deaths in the Southern District of Ohio, where Green is charged. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted.
Jonatan Gonzales, 35, of South Bakersfield, California, was identified as the Dark Web narcotics vendor "SpeedyPharma." He is charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in the Western District of Pennsylvania. U.S. law enforcement seized 48 lbs. of methamphetamine, 588 grams of cocaine, 386 grams of black tar heroin, 3.5 grams of fentanyl, 2.8 grams of carfentanil and $40,565 in cash following a search of his residence. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted.
Eric Turner, 30, of Lizella, Georgia, and Jose Smith, 29, of Valrico, Florida, were arrested in June for operating a Dark Web drug trafficking organization that primarily sold bulk quantities of heroin and fentanyl using the monikers Postmates and FuegoPacksXpress. They are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin in the Middle District of Florida. Law enforcement seized 4.5 kilograms of heroin, 22 grams of fentanyl, MDMA and alprazolam tablets, and 25 firearms following a search of their residences. They face a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted.
In New Jersey, Michael Morales, 25, and Thomas A. Crisafulli, 27, both of Bergenfield; Naudy Oviedo, 21, and Jayshawn Eyamazememba, 22, both of Bronx, New York; and Ethan Lara, 25, of Lodi, New Jersey, were arrested for their alleged roles in a New York/New Jersey distribution cell operating on behalf of a nationwide drug trafficking organization. Law enforcement seized approximately 300 kilograms of counterfeit Xanax, MDMA, ketamine and other controlled substances. The defendants were charged in Bergen County, New Jersey, and face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted. The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office is handling the prosecution.
Agencies involved
Operation TorNado was a collaborative initiative across JCODE members, including the Department of Justice; FBI; DEA; FDA Office of Criminal Investigations; Homeland Security Investigations; IRS Criminal Investigation; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Army Criminal Investigation Division; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and Office of Foreign Assets Control; and Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Local, state and other federal agencies also contributed. Europol, Eurojust and law enforcement partners in Australia, Austria, Czechia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Slovenia and the United Kingdom also provided support.
Federal prosecutions are being conducted in more than 20 federal districts, including the Middle District of Florida, the Southern District of Florida, the Middle District of Georgia and the Northern District of Georgia. JCODE is an FBI-led Department of Justice initiative to disrupt global drug-trafficking networks and the digital infrastructure that enables them.
An indictment and criminal complaint merely alleges that crimes have been committed. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.