US Indicts Iranian National for Operating Nemesis Darknet Marketplace
Behrouz Parsarad, an Iranian national, has been indicted by a US grand jury for operating the Nemesis darknet marketplace from March 2021 to March 2024. The marketplace facilitated over 400,000 orders, serving more than 150,000 users and registering around 1,100 vendor accounts globally. Approximately 55,000 orders were for stimulants like methamphetamine and cocaine, while 17,000 were for opioids such as heroin and fentanyl. Nemesis processed nearly $30 million in drug sales before its closure by authorities. Parsarad is also charged with offering money laundering services through cryptocurrency mixing. He faces a minimum of 10 years and a maximum life sentence but resides in Iran, complicating extradition. No other individuals have been charged in connection with Nemesis. Security experts note that operating such a large marketplace typically requires a team, raising questions about potential collaborators. Despite the indictment, many darknet marketplaces remain active, with estimates of 20 to 30 significant drug-focused platforms still operational.
