Key Silk Road Operator Arrested in Thailand 

Another high-profile arrest has been made in relation to the Silk Road online drug marketplace. Canadian Roger Thomas Clark was arrested in Thailand this week by the FBI.

The US Department of Justice alleged that Clark played a major role in the success of Silk Road as a key advisor to the website’s creator, Ross Ulbricht. Clark advised Ulbricht on what technology to use to run the site and how to boost sales of illegal contraband, as well as helping to evade the police by concealing their real identities. The US Department of Justice has stated that Clark was paid “at least hundreds of thousands of dollars” for his role.

It is thought that Clark stayed in Thailand to avoid the US authorities, however, the FBI worked in partnership with other law enforcement agencies to track down and ultimately arrest him.

Silk Road was a dark web black market used as a platform for people to buy illegal drugs online. The website was operational between February 2011 and October 2013 and made over $200 million in illegal sales before being shut down following FBI raids and the subsequent arrest of Ulbricht.

Ulbricht was convicted of computer hacking, money laundering, narcotics trafficking conspiracy, trafficking drugs on the internet and running a continuing criminal enterprise. In February 2015, he was sentenced to life in prison with no parole.

Roger Thomas Clark faces narcotics conspiracy and money laundering charges. Currently incarcerated in Thailand awaiting extradition to the US, if found guilty on both charges he could be sentenced to 30 years in jail.