On Thursday, November 12, 2026, Operation TorNado produced 354 arrests and seizures of more than $234 million in cash and virtual currencies, the largest dark web drug takedown uncovered by federal and international law enforcement.
The coordinated operation, led by the Justice Department's JCODE team with Europol and partners in 14 countries, described a sweep that ran from May 2025 to October 2026. It targeted dark web vendors and buyers on markets already seized by law enforcement, and the seizures included about 5.7 metric tons of illicit drugs, 38 pill presses and 209 firearms. Federal prosecutors have brought cases in more than 20 districts, with defendants accused of drug distribution and related conduct; they are presumed innocent until proven guilty.