The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives targets illegal online firearms sales, as demonstrated by the case against Michael Andrew Ryan, who ran a covert gun operation from Kansas using the dark Web. Facing up to ten years in prison, Ryan admitted to selling untraceable firearms internationally, illustrating the alarming reach of the Internet for illegal trafficking.
Ryan’s dealings were only a fraction of the challenge that federal agents face, as the dark Web hosts a variety of illegal trades beyond firearms. The ATF is intensifying efforts to combat this shadowy marketplace by establishing the Internet Investigations Center, which aims to root out such criminal activities and enhance national security against threats posed by unregulated arms trafficking.
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