A U.S. federal court has sentenced Rui-Siang Lin, a Taiwanese national accused of running one of the world’s largest darknet drug marketplaces, to 30 years in prison, closing a major chapter in global cyber-narcotics enforcement.

Lin, 24, operated the dark web platform Incognito Market under the alias “Pharaoh.” Prosecutors say the marketplace facilitated more than $105 million in illegal drug sales between October 2020 and March 2024, processing over 640,000 transactions for hundreds of thousands of buyers worldwide.

A Major Darknet Operation

According to U.S. authorities, Incognito Market functioned as a full-scale online narcotics bazaar, offering opioids, stimulants, and counterfeit pharmaceuticals. Payments were conducted almost entirely in cryptocurrency, while anonymity tools were used to conceal both buyers and sellers.

Prosecutors said Lin personally controlled the platform, collected commissions on transactions, and used sophisticated methods to launder proceeds from drug sales.

How Investigators Caught Him

Despite extensive efforts to remain anonymous, investigators eventually unraveled the operation through a combination of:

  • Blockchain analysis tracing cryptocurrency flows

  • Undercover drug purchases conducted by law enforcement

  • Domain registration records that included Lin’s real name, phone number, and physical address

These operational security mistakes proved critical in linking Lin directly to Incognito Market.

The investigation was led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, which described the case as one of the largest darknet drug prosecutions since the Silk Road takedown.

Guilty Plea and Impact

Lin pleaded guilty in December 2024 to charges including narcotics conspiracy, money laundering, and selling adulterated and misbranded medication. Prosecutors said his operation contributed to at least one confirmed death and significantly worsened the ongoing opioid crisis.

Authorities estimate that more than 470,000 drug users were affected by substances sold through the platform.

A Striking Background

Taiwanese media reports indicate Lin studied at National Taiwan University and later completed Taiwan’s mandatory civilian alternative service in St. Lucia. During that time, he reportedly worked in technical assistance roles and even helped train local police on cybercrime and cryptocurrency , an irony prosecutors highlighted during sentencing.

A Broader Message

The case underscores a growing reality: while cryptocurrency and anonymity tools can obscure illicit activity, they do not guarantee protection from law enforcement. Investigators increasingly rely on blockchain forensics and operational mistakes to dismantle large-scale criminal networks.

For regulators and policymakers, the sentence sends a clear signal that darknet drug operations , no matter how technologically advanced , remain firmly within reach of global enforcement agencies.