The 10 Largest Seized Websites in the World

In the digital age, some of the most influential and heavily visited websites in the world haven't been social networks or search engines, but platforms for illicit activity. From drug and weapons trafficking to copyright infringement and stolen data markets—these are ten of the largest and most notorious websites ever seized by law enforcement.

🥇 1. AlphaBay

The largest darknet marketplace of all time

Between 2014 and 2017, AlphaBay was the biggest illegal marketplace on the darknet. The platform enabled anonymous trading of drugs, weapons, hacking tools, stolen data, malware, and more. It was accessible only via the Tor network and accepted cryptocurrencies for payment.

Background

• Founded: 2014 by Alexandre Cazes (alias "Alpha02")

• Structure: User-friendly interface, escrow services, review system

• Payments: Bitcoin, Monero

Seizure

• Date: July 2017

• Operation: International effort involving FBI, DEA, Europol, and Thai authorities

• Arrest: Cazes was captured in Thailand and died in custody shortly after

Key Figures

• Active: 3 years

• Users: over 400,000 active accounts

• Estimated revenue: $600,000–$800,000 daily

• Significance: The largest illicit trade platform of its era

🥈 2. Silk Road

The pioneer of online drug trafficking

Silk Road was the first major illegal marketplace on the darknet. Launched in 2011, it enabled anonymous transactions of drugs, fake IDs, and various services. The site used Tor and Bitcoin to ensure anonymity.

Background

• Founder: Ross Ulbricht (alias "Dread Pirate Roberts")

• Innovations: Review system, escrow service, Bitcoin-only payments

• Legacy: A symbol of both internet freedom and cybercrime

Seizure

• Date: October 2013

• Operation: FBI investigation, arrest in a San Francisco library

• Outcome: Ulbricht (free, since the beginning of 2025 by D. Trump)

Key Figures

• Users: over 1 million

• Revenue: approx. $1.2 billion

• Bitcoin seized: over 144,000 BTC

🥉 3. Megaupload

The file hosting giant

Megaupload was one of the world’s most popular file hosting services. Users uploaded and shared files—often pirated movies, music, or software. The site became a focal point of global copyright infringement.

Background

• Founder: Kim Dotcom

• Purpose: Mass cloud storage and sharing

• Funding: Ads and premium memberships

Seizure

• Date: January 2012

• Authorities: U.S. Department of Justice with New Zealand police

• Case: Extradition of Kim Dotcom to the U.S. is still ongoing

Key Figures

• Users: over 150 million accounts

• Rank: 13th most visited site globally before shutdown

• Revenue: approx. $175 million

• Damages: over $500 million according to copyright holders

4. Hansa Market

The law enforcement trap

After AlphaBay's closure, many users flocked to Hansa—unaware that Dutch police had already taken it over. For two weeks, investigators secretly ran the site, collecting data on users.

Background

• Focus: Drugs, weapons, cybercrime tools

• Unique trait: Operated undercover by law enforcement

Seizure

• Date: July 2017

• Operation: Controlled by Dutch police as a sting operation

• Result: Hundreds of user identities and transaction trails collected

Key Figures

• Second-largest darknet market after AlphaBay

• Undercover operation duration: approx. 2 weeks

5. KickassTorrents (KAT)

The torrent empire

KickassTorrents was the world’s most popular torrent site for years, offering access to millions of copyrighted works—from movies to software. Despite domain changes, it remained resilient until authorities shut it down.

Background

• Founder: Artem Vaulin (Ukraine)

• Revenue: Ads and donations

• Structure: Community-driven, with moderators and user reviews

Seizure

• Date: July 2016

• Arrest: Vaulin in Poland, extradition to the U.S. requested

• Action: Global domain and server seizure

Key Figures

• Monthly visitors: over 50 million

• More popular than The Pirate Bay at its peak

• Spawned numerous copycats

6. Breach Forums

Marketplace for stolen data on the clear web

Breach Forums was a high-profile successor to RaidForums, trading in leaked data, hacked accounts, and breach dumps. Unlike darknet platforms, it was accessible via the regular web.

Background

• Founder: "pompompurin" (real name: Conor Brian Fitzpatrick)

• Focus: Data leaks, credentials, compromised systems

• Visibility: Search engine-indexed, no anonymity tools required

Seizure

• First shutdown: March 2023 (Fitzpatrick arrested in New York)

• Second shutdown: May 2024 by FBI (domain seized)

Key Figures

• Users: hundreds of thousands

• Content: millions of stolen records and credentials

• Duration: approx. 1.5 years

7. DarkMarket

Europe’s largest darknet market at time of seizure

DarkMarket catered to an international audience, offering drugs, counterfeit items, and malware. Run by an Australian citizen, it was shut down through coordinated law enforcement efforts.

Background

• Founder: Australian national

• Access: Tor network

• Goods: Drugs, fake IDs, credit card info, malware

Seizure

• Date: January 2021

• Authorities: German prosecutors (ZIT) with international partners

• Arrest: Operator caught near the Danish border

Key Figures

• Users: approx. 500,000

• Volume: several million euros in transactions

8. Wall Street Market

Germany’s darknet export

Wall Street Market was a German-operated darknet platform with global users. At one point, it was the second-largest market after Dream Market.

Background

• Operators: Three German citizens

• Goods: Drugs, hacking tools, forgeries

• Security: 2FA, multisig payments

Seizure

• Date: April 2019

• Operation: BKA-led, coordinated with global agencies

• Outcome: Servers, accounts, and crypto assets seized

Key Figures

• Users: tens of thousands

• Revenue: millions in Bitcoin

9. The Pirate Bay (seized multiple times)

The resilient torrent ship

The Pirate Bay has been seized and blocked many times but remains online through mirrors, proxies, and decentralization. It’s an iconic symbol of digital piracy.

Background

• Founded: 2003 in Sweden

• Focus: Torrents for movies, music, software

• Reputation: Poster child for internet piracy

Seizures

• Years: 2006, 2009, 2014 (and others)

• Arrests: Several operators convicted

Key Figures

• World’s most famous torrent site

• Still active despite legal action

10. Playpen

The covert hunt for child abusers

Playpen was one of the largest child exploitation platforms on the darknet. In a bold move, the FBI took control of the site and ran it covertly to identify users worldwide.

Background

• Content: Child sexual abuse material

• Access: Tor network

• Goal: Identify and prosecute offenders

Seizure

• Date: 2015

• Operation: FBI ran the site for 13 days under "Operation Pacifier"

• Impact: Arrests in over 50 countries

Key Figures

• Users: over 215,000

• Global investigations

• One of the largest undercover operations targeting child abuse