#Dutch Police Crack Down on Dark Web Murder-for-Hire Schemes

A recent investigation reveals a dark web site offering contract killings has been used to order the murders of at least seven Dutch citizens.

#The Dark Web Scheme

A recent investigation has revealed that at least seven Dutch citizens have had their murders ordered on a dark web site offering contract killings. The targets, ordinary people including a civil servant, a teacher, and a nurse, were not part of organized crime groups and lived average lives.

The contract killings were ordered between 2016 and 2022, with four cases involving payments of between €1,000 and almost €10,000. The clients, who were scammed by the people behind the website, often described the murder with gruesome precision. One client wrote, "I want you to burn him alive and I want him to die," adding that their target's elderly mother lived in the same home. "All I want is for him to die; I don’t care what happens to the mother."

#Investigations Underway

The Dutch police have launched investigations into the cases, using data obtained from a hack of the dark web site. The police have already informed several victims and are working to track down the suspects through the paid bitcoins. "We have already informed several victims, and we are still investigating the clients," Thomas Aling of the police said. "We are doing everything we can to track down the suspects through the paid bitcoins, but that is sometimes quite complicated and takes time."

#The Scam

The dark web site, which has existed for years under various names, claims to offer contract killings for a few thousand euros in bitcoin. However, it is a scam, and the people behind it swindle users out of thousands of euros without actually hiring a hitman. The hacked data has been used to convict dozens of people for trying to hire a contract killer in nine different countries in recent years.

#Arrests and Convictions

One Dutch perpetrator, Imran M., 42, from The Hague, was sentenced to eight years in prison in 2021 for twice trying to hire a contract killer to murder his ex-wife, the mother of his two children. M. offered $4,000, paying half upfront, and described where his ex worked at a hospital, the make and color of her car, and her license plate. "The woman is an easy target and must be eliminated as quickly as possible. That’s why I’m offering a $500 bonus if it happens before next weekend."

#Impact on Victims

The victims and their families have been severely impacted by the attempted murders. One victim, Jerom, shared his experience of living in fear after being informed that a murder had been ordered against him. He described the situation as taking a heavy toll on his life, saying his life is "on hold" and that he feels like he's "taken hostage by the whole situation." The instructions for his killing were particularly brutal, including being cut into limbs and set on fire, which he finds "very macabre."

#Challenges in Solving the Cases

The police acknowledge the difficulty in solving these cases, which often date back several years. Tracing the individuals who made bitcoin payments is a complex operation. According to Jop Heinen of police Oost-Nederland, "It is a complex operation to trace who made such a bitcoin payment." Despite the challenges, Heinen emphasized that the police are doing their best to solve the case, adding "We are really doing our best to solve this case. We see leads."

#The Role of a British Hacker

A British hacker, Chris Monteiro, repeatedly breached the website and gained access to hundreds of detailed murder orders from around the world. Through Monteiro, RTL obtained all Dutch cases earlier this year. The material includes seven concrete Dutch cases.

#Police Urge Cooperation

The Dutch police are urging anyone with information to come forward and help solve these cases. The authorities stress that ordering a murder, even on the dark web, is a serious offense that can lead to substantial prison sentences. As the investigations continue, the Dutch police remain committed to solving these complex cases and bringing those responsible to justice.

#Conclusion

The dark web site remains active, and its administrator claims that it is real and can carry out killings for a price. However, police believe it is a scam, and no killings have been carried out.