Australian Cannabis Vendor Busted
According to a press release by New South Wales Police, 55-year-old Matthew Robert McDonald distributed cannabis through an undisclosed dark web market from at least March 2018 to April 2023.
The investigations that led to McDonald's arrest were conducted by investigators from Strike Force Presland, a task force established by the State Crime Command's Cybercrime Squad in November 2022. The task force investigates the sale and distribution of illicit drugs in NSW through the dark web.
In the course of the investigations, the investigators came across McDonald's vendor profile on an undisclosed dark web marketplace.
On April 27, 2023, following "extensive" investigations, the investigators acquired and executed search and arrest warrants against McDonald.
A search of McDonald's home resulted in the seizure of an undisclosed number of mature cannabis plants, an undisclosed quantity of cannabis, more than $2400 in cash, and $650 in crypto.
McDonald was arrested at a parking lot and detained at the Kempsey Police Station.
McDonald being arrested
He was consequently charged with three counts of supplying illicit drugs, one count of cultivating a prohibited plant, and four counts of dealing with proceeds of crime.
Quote:Cybercrime Squad Commander, Superintendent Matt Craft
Our detectives are specially trained to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle the supply of prohibited drugs, no matter how or where they are sold. 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.
McDonald appeared before the Kempsey Local Court on April 28. The police disclosed that McDonald fulfilled over 450 orders during his drug trafficking operation and made over $961,000.
The court released McDonald on conditional bail. He will appear at the court again on May 11.
Comments (14)
CuriousGeorge2023-04-30a4b0b520
"In the course of the investigations, the investigators came across McDonald's vendor profile on an undisclosed dark web marketplace." Are they refering to Alphabay market?
Anonymous 2023-05-01f6d1ff71
To admin everything to the police or confess his confessions from the police his freedom will be over.
MauiWoWWIE2023-05-028c0545b0
You mean that guy with a red perm dressed like a clown? He's Australian?? Shoulda known
specialagentdildo2023-05-03d4fa4781
alphabay popped up for a while and got everyone suckered into using there platform. Now they are all going to jail. Who uses a platform like that after what happened to them. Than desnake suddenly disappears. Something fishy.
Omar missions2023-05-186d233807
have this kind of product from Morocco if anyone interested make me a monkey have no fear of the authorities even move it to the whole world by plane freight airport
Robert Nesta2023-05-21de92d0bb
Pathetic and a strong indictment against current Australian primitive approach to psychoactive substances and therefore a very important litmus test of their general treatment of general human rights....For fucks sake grow up! No doubt, LE officers getting their desired child like kicks from busting drug king pins! You can see it in their faces! Wow guys ...this one had $650 in crypto! You're saving the world alright!!!!
Bupkis Randal Jr.2023-04-299b2a360b
Adult humans have no right to access "prohibited plants". I don't give them permission and neither does the Australia.