In a significant breakthrough for federal prosecutors, a 23-year-old Taiwanese national has pleaded guilty to orchestrating what authorities describe as a sophisticated $100 million darknet drug marketplace. Rui-Siang Lin, who operated under the pseudonym “Pharoah,” admitted to running Incognito Market from October 2020 until its shutdown in March 2024.
What set Lin’s operation apart was its corporate-style approach to illegal drug distribution. Incognito Market operated with the efficiency of a legitimate e-commerce platform, featuring vendor registration fees and a 5% commission structure on all transactions. Through a proprietary “banking” system, the marketplace processed millions in cryptocurrency payments between buyers and sellers dealing in heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other controlled substances.
Federal investigators uncovered disturbing evidence of counterfeit pharmaceuticals during their probe. In one November 2023 undercover purchase, agents ordered what was advertised as prescription oxycodone but received fentanyl-laced pills instead – highlighting the lethal risks faced by users of such marketplaces.
The platform’s sophistication was evident in its user interface, which allowed customers to browse thousands of drug listings using the Tor browser, a tool designed to maintain anonymity online. As administrator, Lin maintained oversight of all operations, from vendor management to customer service, essentially running an illegal Amazon-like marketplace for narcotics.
The guilty plea marks another victory for law enforcement in their ongoing battle against darknet markets, though experts note that such operations continue to evolve and emerge despite high-profile takedowns. Lin’s sentencing date has not yet been announced.
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