Arrest of ‘Pharaoh’
In recent news, Taiwanese national and dark web drug dealer Rui-Siang Lin, known as ‘Pharaoh’, was apprehended by U.S. authorities. Lin, accused of orchestrating over $100 million in cryptocurrency transactions related to illegal drug sales, was captured at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport.
“The dedicated prosecutors from the Southern District of New York and our law enforcement partners will pursue criminal actors regardless of whether they operate on street corners or in the dark corners of the internet.”
Ling masqueraded under the alias ‘Pharaoh’ while managing the online “Incognito Market” for nearly four years. His illicit activities included the distribution of lethal narcotics such as fentanyl to customers worldwide, as confirmed by the U.S. attorney’s office.
Charges and Legal Consequences
Lin faces severe legal repercussions, including charges of engaging in criminal enterprises, narcotics conspiracy, money laundering, and conspiracy to sell adulterated medication. These charges bear substantial sentences ranging from 5 years to a potential life term in prison.
“The so-called ‘dark web’ is not a safe haven for those who seek to break the law.”
The collaborative effort of U.S. authorities, the FBI, and the El Dorado Task Force’s Darkweb and Cryptocurrency Task Force deployed advanced methodologies to apprehend Lin, underscoring their commitment to combatting cybercriminals effectively.
