A darknet drug bazaar known as Incognito Market made headlines recently with the arrest of Rui-Siang Lin, a Taiwanese national, at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport. Operating under the pseudonym “Pharoah,” Lin was the mastermind behind the platform, which facilitated the sale of illegal narcotics such as fentanyl. FBI Assistant Director in Charge, James Smith, revealed that Lin had been running Incognito Market for approximately four years, overseeing all operations, vendors, employees, and customers. The platform processed over $100 million in crypto transactions during its operation, making Lin millions of dollars in personal profit.
The arrest of Lin brought to light various criminal charges he is facing. These charges include money laundering, engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise, narcotics conspiracy, and conspiracy to sell misbranded and adulterated medication. The FBI was able to trace Lin’s identity by tracking crypto transactions from the marketplace to an exchange account registered in his name. The exchange account provided crucial information such as Lin’s driver’s license, email, and phone number, leading to his identification and subsequent arrest.
Incognito Market operated by facilitating the buying and selling of drugs like prescription amphetamines, MDMA, LSD, and cocaine using cryptocurrencies such as Monero and Bitcoin. Lin extracted a 5% commission from all sales conducted on the platform. The downfall of Incognito Market came in March when an exit scam was executed, leaving users unable to access their funds. To prevent the leak of customer data, administrators demanded fees from vendors, resulting in the platform’s eventual closure.
Legal Consequences and Sentencing
If convicted of the charges, Lin is potentially facing a mandatory life sentence for engaging in a criminal enterprise. The case bears similarities to that of Ross Ulbricht, the individual behind the infamous Silk Road darknet marketplace, who received a life sentence for similar crimes. Lin’s narcotics conspiracy charge carries a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum potential sentence of life imprisonment. The combination of all charges could result in a total of 25 years in prison for Lin if found guilty.
The rise and fall of Incognito Market serve as a stark reminder of the legal consequences of engaging in illegal activities on the dark web. Despite attempts to operate under the guise of anonymity and privacy, individuals like Lin are being held accountable for their actions. The closure of platforms like Incognito Market sends a clear message that law enforcement agencies are committed to combating cybercrime and illicit activities, regardless of the technological tools used to conceal them.