AN ISLE of Wight man has been arrested on suspicion of conspiring to supply heroin on the Dark Web.

The 34-year-old, together with a 41-year-old man from London, was arrested by officers from the Cyber and Dark Web Unit — part of the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU).   

They have both been released under investigation.  

A total of five warrants were carried out yesterday (Tuesday) as part of this investigation. 

Officers from the Metropolitan Police Service and Hampshire Constabulary assisted SEROCU officers with searches at addresses on the Isle of Wight, as well as in Portsmouth, Hackney and Walthamstow.   

Detective Inspector Rob Bryant of SEROCU’s Regional Cyber Crime Unit said: “This is an ongoing investigation and our action sends out a clear message to organised criminal groups who are using the Dark Web to commit such offences, that crime really doesn’t pay.  

“We continue to work in partnership with the National Crime Agency, US Law Enforcement and our regional and force colleagues to identify and investigate those using the Dark Web. 

“Anyone who is selling drugs on the Dark Web should realise that we will find them and we will look to prosecute them.

"The wider impact of drug dealing causes untold damage to people’s lives and we will take every opportunity to disrupt this criminal activity to protect the communities of the South East from harm.” 

The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) lead for the Dark Web, detective chief inspector Phil Donnelly, said: “The regional Dark Web Teams, which form part of the UK Dark Web Intelligence Collaboration and Exploitation, are having a real impact on disrupting organised criminal activity on the Dark Web.

“Criminals should not see the Dark Web as a safe place where police cannot touch them.

“Our highly trained and capable officers and staff are actively taking down Dark Web operations on a daily basis and the South East team have played an integral role in this ongoing investigation.”