The United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned Behrouz Parsarad, the administrator of the Iran-based Nemesis darknet marketplace, for his role in facilitating the sale of fentanyl and other drugs globally. This designation includes 44 Bitcoin (BTC) addresses and 5 Monero addresses associated with Parsarad, according to Chainalysis.

Nemesis’ Role in the Darknet Ecosystem

Nemesis, established by Parsarad in 2021, served as a platform for narcotics traffickers and cybercriminals, enabling the sale of nearly $30 million worth of fentanyl and other illegal substances until its servers were seized in March 2024 by authorities from the U.S., Germany, and Lithuania. The marketplace boasted over 30,000 active users and 1,000 vendors, facilitating not only drug sales but also the exchange of false identification documents and hacking services.

Parsarad’s Cryptocurrency Transactions

Parsarad’s on-chain activity reveals significant connections to other darknet marketplaces (DNMs), such as ASAP Market and Incognito Market. Between July 2022 and March 2024, his BTC wallets received over $850,000, with transactions exceeding $1.6 million, indicating strategic use of Bitcoin’s price fluctuations to enhance his holdings’ value. Despite being Iran-based, Parsarad’s operations showed no direct on-chain links to Iranian services, highlighting efforts to conceal his activities in a country where drug offenses are severely punished.

OFAC’s Global Efforts Against Fentanyl Trade

OFAC’s latest designation underscores U.S. authorities’ commitment to dismantling the global fentanyl supply chain, extending their focus beyond the China-Mexico corridor to include activities emanating from Iran. This move also marks OFAC’s inaugural action as part of the FBI-led Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement Team, signaling a comprehensive strategy to combat illicit on-chain activities linked to regional proxies and cyber threats.

Following the Nemesis takedown, Parsarad has reportedly considered establishing a new DNM, maintaining connections with former vendors. The developments reflect ongoing challenges in curbing the proliferation of darknet marketplaces and their role in global drug trafficking networks.

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