On Tuesday, March 5, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions against an individual named Behrouz Parsaradeh, based in Iran, who is the manager of a network called 'Nemesis' that operated as a marketplace on the dark web facilitating drug transactions. Parsaradeh is said to be the sole manager of 'Nemesis', which provided a platform for cybercriminals and drug traffickers to sell goods and launder money. Bradley Smith, the head of the Treasury Department's Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, stated that Parsaradeh was working to create and maintain a secure haven for the production, sale, and distribution of illegal drugs such as fentanyl. German and Lithuanian police collaborated with U.S. agencies on an investigation that lasted a year and a half, ultimately leading to the seizure of the infrastructure used to operate 'Nemesis' in March 2024. According to the U.S. Treasury Department's statement, 'Nemesis' had over 30,000 active users and 1,000 sellers, facilitating drug sales worth approximately $30 million worldwide, including to the U.S., between 2021 and 2024. Launched in 2021, 'Nemesis' was an active network on the dark web, an encrypted part of the internet accessible only through specialized browsers that allow for high anonymity. Drug traffickers active on 'Nemesis' were engaged in the global sale of fentanyl. 'Nemesis' also facilitated the sale of a wide range of goods and services, such as fake identification documents and professional hacking services, allowing customers to hire hackers to illegally take control of victims' online accounts and communications. Parsaradeh is the founder and sole manager of 'Nemesis', having complete control over its virtual wallets. OFAC estimates that he earned millions of dollars during the network's operation. The U.S. Treasury Department noted that Behrouz Parsaradeh not only provided a platform for transactions for criminals but also assisted in laundering virtual currencies for drug traffickers and cybercriminals active on 'Nemesis'.
U.S. Treasury Department Sanctions Individual in Iran for Facilitating Fentanyl Sales and Virtual Money Laundering
The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned Behrouz Parsaradeh, an Iranian individual managing a dark web network called 'Nemesis' that facilitated fentanyl sales and money laundering. This action follows a collaborative investigation with European law enforcement that led to the seizure of the network's infrastructure. The sanctions highlight ongoing efforts to combat international drug trafficking and cybercrime linked to Iran.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
U.S. sanctions Behrouz Parsaradeh in Iran for facilitating fentanyl sales and money laundering.
- U.S. Treasury Department sanction Behrouz Parsaradeh
- U.S. agencies, German and Lithuanian police seize Nemesis infrastructure
- Behrouz Parsaradeh facilitate drug traffickers, cybercriminals
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The U.S. is actively targeting drug trafficking networks linked to Iran.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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