Darknet dealer "Pygmalion": investigators pursue leads to suspected female drug boss
A woman is believed to be behind the pseudonym "Pygmalion" in the darknet, having allegedly sold drugs on a large scale. The Cybercrime Centralised Office Bavaria has been investigating since January 2024.
Darknet dealer "Pygmalion": investigators pursue leads to suspected female drug boss
A message in a darknet forum triggers a nationwide manhunt in January 2024. Under the alias "Pygmalion", a person writes there that a close friend has been arrested. This alleged friend had previously operated one of the largest German-language online marketplaces for illegal substances.
The Cybercrime Centralised Office Bavaria takes up the lead. Thomas Goger of the authority explains: "That naturally piques our interest." The investigators monitor chats, evaluate digital data and link online clues with conventional police work. Gradually they unravel the network.
What is unusual is what the investigators discover in the process. Behind the pseudonym "Pygmalion" is believed to be a woman named Medina H. She is alleged to have sold drugs by the kilo on the darknet. The accused denies parts of the allegations.
The case provides insights into the modus operandi of a dealer ring that operated on a large scale via encrypted online platforms. The investigators combined digital forensics with classical surveillance to determine the identity of the suspects.
Source: Der Spiegel