NEW YORK, NY – The dark web isn’t a shadowland for criminals to hide, law enforcement declared today with the arrest of RUI-SIANG LIN, a/k/a “Ruisiang Lin,” a/k/a “林睿庠,” a/k/a “Pharoah,” a/k/a “faro.” Lin is accused of operating “Incognito Market,” a sprawling online marketplace for illegal narcotics that raked in an estimated $100 million in illicit transactions. The bust, a multi-agency operation, culminated in Lin’s arrest at John F. Kennedy Airport on May 18, 2024. He’s expected to appear in Manhattan federal court today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willis.
The operation, according to federal prosecutors, wasn’t some fly-by-night scheme. For nearly four years, Lin allegedly built and maintained Incognito Market, allowing users worldwide to anonymously buy and sell everything from heroin and cocaine to counterfeit prescription pills. The scale is staggering: $100 million in narcotics moved through the platform, generating millions in personal profit for Lin. The feds aren’t just talking about marijuana, either. Investigators found evidence of deadly fentanyl being sold, often mislabeled, adding another layer of danger to Lin’s alleged enterprise.
“As alleged, Rui-Siang Lin operated a sophisticated and dangerous online narcotics marketplace through which he profited millions of dollars at the community’s expense,” thundered U.S. Attorney Damian Williams. “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. The so-called ‘dark web’ is not a safe haven for those who seek to break the law.” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland echoed the sentiment, stating Lin was “the architect of a $100 million dark web scheme to traffic deadly drugs.”
The investigation involved a massive collaborative effort. The FBI, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations, the NYPD, and even the FBI’s Cincinnati Field Office all played a role. “HSI New York, in coordination with law enforcement partners, remains resolute in its commitment to protecting the public from individuals utilizing dangerous means to make a profit,” said Ivan J. Arvelo, Special Agent in Charge of HSI New York. The El Dorado Task Force’s Darkweb and Cryptocurrency Task Force was crucial in tracking the digital trail.
Law enforcement officials are clear: this isn’t just about taking down one website. “Mr. Lin’s alleged actions of putting profits before public health were not only reckless and dangerous, but unconscionable,” stated Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s New York Division. “We will continue to make sure those who hide behind a keyboard and use the dark web to profit off lives face justice.” The FBI’s James Smith added that the agency is “committed to targeting and dismantling all criminal enterprises, especially those whose leaders distribute illegal substances on the dark web.”
The arrest of RUI-SIANG LIN sends a clear message: the long arm of the law *does* reach into the encrypted corners of the internet. Federal prosecutors haven’t revealed the specific charges Lin will face, but expect a hefty indictment alleging conspiracy to distribute narcotics, money laundering, and potentially other related crimes. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds, bringing you the unvarnished truth from the front lines of the war on drugs – even when that war is fought in the dark.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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