Los Angeles, CA – Federal authorities have arrested four men allegedly behind one of the largest and longest-running drug operations on the dark web, spanning nearly six years and multiple markets.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the arrest of Davit Avalyan, Hrant Gevorgyan, Hayk Grigoryan (all 35, from Glendale) and Gurgen Nersesyan (43, of Sherman Oaks), who face charges for conspiring to distribute controlled substances. All four pleaded not guilty.
According to the indictment, the group operated at least 10 vendor profiles across 17 darknet marketplaces from 2018 through early 2024. Their products included cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, and ketamine, which were sold for cryptocurrency and shipped via the U.S. Postal Service.
The DOJ identified darknet vendor aliases such as JoyInc, LaFarmacia, and WhiteDoc. JoyInc was reportedly one of the most active meth and cocaine vendors on darknet platforms like Drughub, where they sold bulk narcotics — including listings like “MDMA straight from EUROPE” and ketamine priced at $435.
The 11-count indictment outlines 116 overt acts linked to the conspiracy. If convicted, the defendants could face life in prison.
Federal agents executed searches at multiple locations, recovering large sums of cash and suspected narcotics. Additional evidence remains under seal.
“This case highlights our efforts to take down major darknet drug networks fueling addiction nationwide,” said the DOJ in a press release. Investigators say anonymity tools, encrypted messaging, and crypto payments continue to complicate the fight against online drug trafficking.
The takedown forms part of a larger federal push targeting dark web narcotics vendors believed to have trafficked to thousands across the U.S.
