NSW man, 55, arrested for allegedly dealing drugs on the dark web

Police say they have exposed a man’s dark web activities, issuing a stern warning to others thinking of using the internet to commit crimes.

Police have warned those thinking of using the web for illegal activities after a dramatic arrest of one man accused of using the dark web to supply drugs.

A NSW Police Strike Force set up to catch people using dark web marketplaces to supply prohibited drugs across the state was established in November last year, with investigators identifying a new site where buyers can swap drugs for cryptocurrency.

Police arrested the 55-year-old for cybercrimes. Picture: NSW Police

Following investigations, detectives arrested a 55-year-old man in a carpark in Kempsey, about 420km north of Sydney, at about 11.30am on Thursday.

Dramatic footage released by NSW Police shows the man being arrested.

During a search, police later found cannabis plants, cash and cryptocurrency at a home in Yarravel nearby that were seized for examination.

The 55-year-old was charged with supplying prohibited drugs, cultivating prohibited plants and dealing with proceeds of crime.

He will face court on Friday. Picture: NSW Police

Police will allege he had received more than $1.46m in cryptocurrency in exchange for drugs between March 2018 and April 2023, and he used the funds to purchase goods.

He was refused police bail to appear in court on Friday.

Cybercrime squad commander Superintendent Matt Craft said police would find people who were using the web for illegal activity.

“Our detectives are specially trained to investigate, disrupt and dismantle the supply of prohibited drugs, no matter how or where they are sold,” Superintendent Craft said.

“We’re putting people on notice – the dark web will not provide you a cloak of invisibility and anonymity to conduct any illicit sales of drugs.

“NSW Police will catch up to you and place you before the courts.”