In a landmark case highlighting the growing threat of cybercrime, Donatas Kasputis, 35, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for selling a staggering 76 kilograms (168 pounds) of drugs via the dark web.
Operating under the username “Goodgear” Kasputis supplied cocaine, ecstasy, and mephedrone to 550 buyers across the United Kingdom and beyond. His illicit activities were uncovered following an extensive cyber investigation led by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU).
Kasputis, a resident of Breckland Road in Costessey near Norwich, was apprehended in July at a local post office while attempting to dispatch 16 packages of drugs. Following his arrest, he pleaded guilty to eight offenses at Norwich Crown Court, including two counts of being involved in the supply of Class A drugs.
The investigation into Kasputis began when EMSOU’s cyber investigations team started tracking the username “Beatyhouse2015,” which later changed to “Goodgear.” The profile was initially linked to an address in Boston, Lincolnshire, before moving to Norfolk, where Kasputis was sending up to 30 packages daily.
The breakthrough came when officers identified Kasputis through DNA profiling in collaboration with international partners under the Prüm Agreement, which facilitates cross-border cooperation in criminal investigations.
A search of Kasputis’s home yielded significant quantities of drugs, including 130 grams (5 ounces) of cocaine, 1,300 ecstasy tablets, 6.4 kilograms (14 pounds) of mephedrone, and more than 1.4 kilograms (3 pounds) of cannabis. The discovery highlighted the extensive scale of his drug-dealing operation.
Detective Inspector Jonathan Naylor of EMSOU’s Regional Cyber Crime Unit commented on the case, saying, “The internet and dark web provide individuals with the means to reach a far wider market, transcending county and national borders, which typically would necessitate larger organized crime groups.
While the dark web is often perceived as providing anonymity and protection for both vendors and buyers, the information we gathered on the 550 individuals who purchased drugs from ‘Goodgear’ has been shared with the appropriate police forces.”
This case underscores the increasing complexity and reach of cybercrime, where technology enables individuals to conduct illegal activities on a massive scale while attempting to evade law enforcement.
The successful prosecution of Kasputis serves as a reminder of the persistent efforts and capabilities of cybercrime units in tackling the evolving landscape of digital criminality.