PLEASE STAND BY. PLEASE STAND BY.

>> HELLO, LARGER GROUP THAN NORMAL. WE WILL HAVE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND OTHERS OUT IN A FEW MOMENTS.

MR. SESSION: GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. I'M ESPECIALLY WANT TO WELCOME YOU -- U.S. ATTORNEY PHIL TALBERT FROM THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA. HE HAS DONE GREAT WORK ON THIS IMPORTANT CASE. ANOTHER SPECIAL WELCOME TO YOUR POLL DIRECTOR ROBERT WAINWRIGHT WHO TRAVELED HERE FROM THE NETHERLANDS TO BE WITH US TODAY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS IMPORTANT CASE OF WHICH VARIOUS COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD HAVE PARTICIPATED. ROB, WE APPRECIATE YOU, WE HAVE TREMENDOUS RELATIONSHIPS WITH EUROPOL, WE WORK WITH THEM ON A DAILY BASIS, AND THIS IS THE KIND OF ACTIVITY AND INVESTIGATIVE WORK WE MUST DO IN THIS DAY AND AGE BECAUSE CRIME KNOWS NO QUARTERS. AMONG OTHER CHALLENGES, OUR GREAT COUNTRY IS CURRENTLY IN THE MIDST OF THE DEADLIEST DRUG EPIDEMIC IN OUR HISTORY. ONE AMERICAN NOW DIES OF A DRUG OVERDOSE EVERY 11 MINUTES. MORE THAN 2 MILLION AMERICANS ARE ADDICTED TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. TODAY, SOME OF THE MOST PROLIFIC DRUG SUPPLIERS USE WHAT IS CALLED THE DARK WEB, WHICH IS A COLLECTION OF HIDDEN WEBSITES THAT YOU CAN ONLY ACCESS IF YOU MASK YOUR IDENTITY AND YOUR LOCATION. IT IS CALLED DARK, NOT JUST BECAUSE THESE SITES ARE INTENTIONALLY HIDDEN. IT IS ALSO DARK BECAUSE WHAT IS SOLD ON MANY OF THEM, ILLEGAL WEAPONS, STOLEN IDENTITIES, CHILD PORNOGRAPHY, AND LARGE AMOUNTS OF NARCOTICS. TODAY, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ANNOUNCED THE TAKEDOWN OF A DARK WEB MARKET ALPHA THIS IS THE LARGEST TAKEDOWN IN WORLD HISTORY. ALPHA BAY STAFF MEMBERS CLAIM THIS GROUP SERVERS TO MORE THAN 40,000 A LEGAL VENDORS, PEOPLE WHO SELL ILLEGAL PRODUCTS, FOR MORE THAN 200,000 CUSTOMERS. BY FAR, MOST OF THIS ACTIVITY WAS IN ILLEGAL DRUGS, POURING FUEL ON THE FIRE OF A NATIONAL DRUG EPIDEMIC. AROUND THE TIME OF THE TAKEDOWN OF THIS SITE, THERE WERE MORE THAN 250,000 LISTINGS FOR ILLEGAL DRUGS AND TOXIC CHEMICALS ON ALPHA BAY. MORE THAN TWO THIRDS OF ALL LISTINGS ON ALPHA BAY. AS OF EARLIER THIS YEAR, 122 VENDORS ADVERTISED FENTANYL. 238 ADVERTISED HEROINE. WE KNOW OF SEVERAL AMERICANS WHO WERE KILLED BY DRUGS ON ALPHA BAY. ONE VICTIM WAS JUST 18 YEARS OLD WHEN IN FEBRUARY SHE OVERDOSED ON A POWERFUL SYNTHETIC OPIOID WHICH SHE HAD BOUGHT ON ALPHA BAY. THE DRUG WISH IT TO HER HOUSE THROUGH THE MAIL. A LITTLE MORE THAN A WEEK AFTER HER DEATH, A VICTIM IN ORANGE COUNTY, FLORIDA DIED OF AN OVERDOSE FROM A DRUG BOUGHT ON ALPHA BAY. THEN THERE WAS GRANT SIEVER, ONLY 13 YEARS OF AGE, A STUDENT AT TREASURE MOUNTAIN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, UTAH, PARK CITY. WHEN HE PASSED AWAY, AFTER OVERDOSING ON A SYNTHETIC OPIOID THAT HAD BEEN PURCHASED BY A CLASSMATE ON ALPHA BAY. THE ABILITY OF THESE DRUGS TO SO INSTANTANEOUSLY END THESE PROMISING LIVES IS A REMINDER TO US OF JUST HOW INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS THESE SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS ARE. ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE PURCHASED ANONYMOUSLY FROM DARK PLACES ON THE INTERNET. THIS IS LIKE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS OF THIS ENTIRE YEAR. I HAVE NO DOUBT OF THAT. MAKE NO MISTAKE, THE FORCES OF LAW AND JUSTICE FACE A CHALLENGE FROM CRIMINALS AND TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS WHO THINK THEY CAN COMMIT THEIR CRIMES WITH IMPUNITY BY GOING DARK. THIS CASE PURSUED BY DEDICATED AGENTS AND PROSECUTORS SAYS YOU ARE NOT SAFE. YOU CANNOT HIDE. WE WILL FIND YOU. DISMANTLING ORGANIZATION AND NETWORK, AND WE WILL PROSECUTE YOU. I BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE OF THIS OPERATION, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE SAFER. PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD ARE SAFER TO SAVE HER FROM THE THREAT OF IDENTITY FRAUD AND MALWARE AND SAVE HER FROM DEADLY DRUGS. BUT THE DEPARTMENT WORK IS NOT FINISHED. WE WILL CONTINUE TO FIND, ARREST, PROSECUTE, CONVICT, AND INCARCERATE CRIMINALS, DRUG TRAFFICKERS, AND THEIR ENABLERS, WHEREVER THEY ARE. THE DARKNET IS NOT A PLACE TO HIDE. WE WILL USE EVERY TOOL WE HAVE TO STOP CRIMINALS FROM EXPLORING VULNERABLE PEOPLE AND SENDING SO MANY AMERICANS TO AN EARLY GRAVE, PERPETUATED BY THE TECHNOLOGY. I WANT TO THANK OUR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS AT EUROPOL AND IN THAILAND, THE NETHERLANDS, LITHUANIA, CANADA, THE UNITED KINGDOM, FRANCE, AND GERMANY, ALL OF WHOM HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH US TO TAKE DOWN THIS CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE. AND TO ALL THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL, AT THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION, FBI, AND THOSE AT THE IRS, CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS, ATTORNEYS AND STAFF, ALL OF WHOM WORKED TIRELESSLY ON THIS CASE. YOU HAVE MADE US PROUD. YOU HAVE MADE THIS COUNTRY SAFER, AND WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

MR. ROSENSTEIN: THANK YOU, ATTORNEY GENERAL SESSIONS. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I'M GRATEFUL TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS AND PROSECUTORS FOR THEIR TIRELESS WORK ON THIS CASE AND TO OUR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS FOR THEIR SHORT IN EVERY CORPORATION. THE ALPHA BAY CASE IS PART OF A LARGER INTERNATIONAL EFFORT TO ATTACK DARK WEB MARKET BASIS. THEIR ALLEGED CONDUCT CONDUCT INCLUDES SELLING ILLEGAL DRUGS LIKE FENTANYL AND HEROIN, AS WELL AS STOLEN FRAUDULENT IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS AND ACCESS DEVICES, COUNTERFEIT GOODS, MALWARE IN COMPUTER HACKING TOOLS, FIREARMS, AND TOXIC CHEMICALS. THIS WAS A COORDINATED INTERNATIONAL OPERATION AGAINST ALPHA BAY AND ANOTHER WEBSITE WHICH THE DUTCH AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATING AND SHUT DOWN EARLIER TODAY. AS PART OF THIS OPERATION, THE DUE SITE ADMINISTRATORS WERE ARRESTED AND AUTHORITY SEES EXTENSIVE EVIDENCE AND ILLICIT ASSETS RELATED TO THOSE ENTERPRISES. THIS CASE STARTED WITH SEVERAL INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIONS AND WE HAD THE ASSISTANCE OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES REPRESENTED HERE, AS WELL AS SEVERAL U.S. ATTORNEY OFFICES. WE JOIN TOGETHER WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS TO COORDINATE THE TIMING OF THE TAKEDOWN OF THESE WEBSITES. THE ALPHA BAY TAKEDOWN AND ARREST OF ITS ADMINISTRATOR COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF OUR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS. THAT IS ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS CASE TODAY. WE WORKED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES IN THAILAND, THE NETHERLANDS, LITHUANIA, CANADA, THE UNITED KINGDOM, FRANCE, AS WELL AS SUPPORT FROM EUROPOL. WE WILL HEAR FROM THE EUROPOL DIRECTOR THIS MORNING. THERE WERE MANY MOVING PARTS TO THIS INVESTIGATION. ALLEGED MEMBERS OF THE CONSPIRACY USED ANONYMIZING TECHNIQUES TRYING TO CONCEAL THEIR IDENTITIES AND LOCATIONS. PEELING BACK ONE THERE AFTER ANOTHER TOOK US TWO NEW COUNTRIES WHERE WE NEEDED ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FROM OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. WITH EACH DEVELOPING IN THE CASE, OUR INTERNATIONAL COLLEAGUES EXPRESSED A WILLINGNESS TO ASSIST. DARK WEBSITES LIKE ALPHA BAY AND OTHERS RUN ON WHAT IS CALLED THE TOUR NETWORK. HIDDEN SERVICES DESIGNED TO CONCEAL INFORMATION THAT COULD REVEAL THE LOCATION OF A WEBSITE AND ITS CUSTOMERS. PEOPLE USING THESE WEBSITES BELIEVE THEY WILL BE ANONYMOUS, BUT THIS CASE DEMONSTRATES THAT IS NOT ALWAYS TRUE. MANY DARK WEBSITES OPENLY TRADE IN NARCOTICS, GUNS, IMAGES OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN, AND OTHER SERIOUS CRUEL CONDUCT. AN ACADEMIC STUDY FOUND THAT THE LARGEST SINGLE CATEGORY OF HIDDEN SERVICES ON THE NETWORK WAS FOUR RUNS FOR THE SALE OF DRUGS AND CONTRABAND. IT ALSO FOUND 80% OF TRAFFIC RELATED TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN. SOME SITES HAVE MEMBERSHIP OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF USERS ACROSS THE GLOBE. THOSE DISTURBING STATISTICS EXPLAIN WHY DISRUPTING AND DISMANTLING DARK WEBSITES IS A PRIORITY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. INTERNATIONAL CORN NATION IS CRITICAL TO OUR SUCCESS. ADMINISTRATORS AND USERS OF DARK WEBSITES USE ANONYMIZING TECHNIQUES TO THWART LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES. OUR AGENTS, PROSECUTORS, ANALYSTS, AND SUPPORT STAFF WORKED TIRELESSLY TO LOCATE THE INFRASTRUCTURE HOSTING THE SITES AND IDENTIFY THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM. THESE METHODS PROVEN ONGOING CHALLENGE FOR US. HUNDREDS OF SITES ON THE NETWORK STILL ENABLE A VAST AMOUNT OF CRIMINAL ACTIVITY TO OCCUR BUT WE ARE PROUD OF THE ACCOUNT IS THAT WE ANNOUNCED TODAY AND RECOGNIZE OUR WORK IS NOT DONE. WE FACE MANY CHALLENGES AND READING INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO OVERCOME THOSE CHALLENGES. EXCEPTIONAL FOREIGN CORPORATION WITH OUR OPERATION TO ATTACK A LEGAL ACTIVITY ON THE DARK WEB DEMONSTRATES INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH US TO DENY SAFE HAVENS AND CYBERCRIME. THAT HELPS US TO PROTECT THE PRIVACY, SAFETY, AND SECURITY OF ALL AMERICANS. ONE OTHER DEVELOPMENT I WANT TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION, FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF THE DEFENDANT CHARGED IN THE AMERICAN CASE, OUR U.S. ATTORNEY AND EASTERN CALIFORNIA FILED A CIVIL COMPLAINT WHICH WILL ENSURE THAT APPROPRIATE ACTION IS TAKEN WITH REGARD TO ALL THE ASSETS THAT WERE SEIZED IN THE COURSE OF THAT INVESTIGATION. THIS TIME I WANT TO DEDUCE THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE FBI, AND INDICATE. MR.

MCCABE: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE. THIS IS A LANDMARK OPERATION. ALPHA BAY WAS ROUGHLY 10 TIMES THE SIZE OF THE SILK ROAD, SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MULTIPLE SERVERS, DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CRYPTO CURRENCY, IN A DARKNET DRUG TRADE THAT SPAN THE GLOBE. IT TAKES A LOT OF COORDINATION AND A SHARED PURPOSE TO PULL OFF AN OPERATION LIKE THIS, SO WITH YOUR PATIENCE, I LIKE TO THANK A FEW OF THE FOLKS WITH WHOM WE WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO THANK THE FBI SACRAMENT OF FIELD OFFICE WHO TOOK THE LABORING OR IN MAKING THIS OPERATION FOR SUCCESS. I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR FOLKS IN THE ATLANTIC, PITTSBURGH, PHILADELPHIA, CHICAGO FIELD OFFICES, AS WELL AS THE FBI'S CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIVE DIVISION AT HEADQUARTERS, CYBER DIVISION, AND LEGAL OFFICES OVERSEAS. THESE TEAMS DID AMAZING WORK AND WE ARE UNDER NO ILLUSION THAT WE DO THIS TYPE OF WORK ON OUR OWN. WE ARE EXTREMELY GRATEFUL TO OUR PARTNERS IN THAILAND, THE NETHERLANDS, LITHUANIA, CANADA, THE U.K., FRANCE, AS WELL AS OUR PARTNERS IN EUROPOL. WE WANT TO THANK HOURS PARTNERS-- OUR DUTCH PARTNERS IN TAKING DOWN THE WEBSITE TO WHICH MANY OF THE ALPHA BAY USERS AND VENDORS FLOCKED AFTER THE DEMISE OF ALPHA BAY. TAKING DOWN TO MAJOR DARK SITES AT ONCE IS CONSIDERABLE AND IT TOOK A LOT OF EFFORT, A LOT OF EXPERTISE, AND TEAMWORK. AS THIS LEVEL OF TEAMWORK AND COORDINATION SHOWS, WE WILL GO TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH TO FIND THESE PEOPLE AND TO STOP THEM. THERE ARE SOME CRIMINALS THAT THINK OF CYBERCRIME AS A FREEBIE . A THINK THEY WILL GET AWAY WITH IT BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO MANY PLAYERS AND TOO MANY COUNTRIES DO THEY THINK THEY WILL GET AWAY WITH IT BECAUSE THE SCHEMES ARE TOO COMPLEX AND BECAUSE THEY OPERATE IN THE SHADOWS. BUT WE ARE BLENDING TRADITIONAL INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES AND NEW TOOLS TO BRING THESE INDIVIDUALS OUT OF THE SHADOWS AND INTO THE LIGHT. THE FBI'S HIGH-TECH ORGANIZED CRIME UNIT TARGET CRIMINAL ENTERPRISES THAT CONDUCT TRADITIONAL CRIMINAL ACTIVITY LIKE MONEY LAUNDERING AND THE SALE OF ILLICIT GOODS THROUGH COMPUTERS AND THE INTERNET. TOGETHER WITH FOLKS FROM THE CYBER DIVISION, VOMIT CRIME, CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN PROGRAMS, WE ARE WORKING TO GET EVEN THE GET BETWEEN COMPUTER INTRUSIONS THAT TARGET OUR DATA AND TECHNOLOGY, AND TRADITIONAL CRIMES FACILITATED BY TECHNOLOGY, LIKE THE DARKNET. THIS TEAMWORK TO LEGITIMATE TO IDENTIFY THE LOCATION OF THE ALPHA BAY INFRASTRUCTURE AND TO IDENTIFY THE ADMINISTRATOR, AND TO SHUT DOWN THE SITE ARE GOOD. CRITICS WILL SAY AS WE SHUDDER ONE SIDE, ANOTHER WILL EMERGE. AND THEY MAY BE RIGHT. BUT THAT IS THE NATURE OF CRIMINAL WORK. IT NEVER GOES AWAY, YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY KEEP AT IT, AND YOU HAVE TO USE EVERY TOOL IN YOUR TOOLBOX. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WILL DO. WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT OVER THE YEARS ABOUT TAKING DOWN INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL SYNDICATES, AND THAT SAME EXPERIENCE APPLIES TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE FACILITATED ON THE DARKNET. WE KNOW THAT REMOVING TOP CRIMINALS FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOT A LONG-TERM FIX. THERE IS ALWAYS A NEW PLAYER WAITING IN THE WINGS READY TO FILL THOSE SHOES. IT IS LIKE DEMOLISHING A BUILDING. HACKING AWAY AT INDIVIDUAL WALLS AND BEAMS ONLY DOES SO MUCH WHEN USING FEDERAL STATUTES TO PROSECUTE THESE INDIVIDUALS IS AKIN TO BLOG FOUNDATION WITH DYNAMITE. ONCE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IMPLODES, IT BECOMES DIFFICULT FOR THE GROUP TO FUNCTION. THE WEIGHT OF THIS KIND OF OPERATION, THE ORGANIZATION CRUMBLES. WE WILL KEEP DOING THIS GREAT WORK AND WILL CONTINUE TO COUNT ON OUR FEDERAL COUNTERPARTS AND INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS TO BE WITH US. NOW I LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO ONE OF OUR ABSOLUTE CLOSEST PARTNERS AND BEST COLLEAGUES FROM THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION, ROBERT PATTISON, ACTING DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR. MR.

PATTISON: GOOD MORNING. I AM PLEASED TO REPRESENT THE DEA AND JOIN THE OTHER LITTLE AND COLLEAGUES IN ANNOUNCING THE TAKEDOWN. EXTREMELY DEDICATED INVESTIGATORS, ANALYSTS, AND PROSECUTORS WORK TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE. I GREATLY APPRECIATE THE LARGER COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS OF ALL OF OUR OTHER FEDERAL PARTNERS INCLUDING THE FBI, IRS, UNITED STATES POSTAL INSPECTION SERVICE, AND HOMELAND SECURITY. AS DIRECTOR MCCABE NOTED, THESE CASES DEMAND INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION AND COOPERATION. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK OF OUR FEDERAL, FELLOW LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS IN THAILAND, THE NETHERLANDS, LITHUANIA, CANADA, UNITED KINGDOM, FRANCE, AND OBVIOUSLY EUROPOL. WE ARE ALL SAVVY REMINDED ON A DAILY BASIS, OUR NATION CONTINUES TO FACE AN OPIOID EPIDEMIC. THE DARK WEB IS AN AVAILABLE AND SEEMINGLY ANONYMOUS MARKETPLACE FOR THE SALE OF THESE DRUGS. A DEA CONTINUES TO BE FULLY COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING THIS EPIDEMIC. WE ARE ATTACKING THE PROBLEM FROM MULTIPLE ANGLES. FROM THE TRADITIONAL ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS TARGETING THE MAJOR SOURCES OUTSIDE OF OUR BORDERS THAT FEEL UNTOUCHABLE TO THEIR NETWORKS THAT BRING THE DRUGS ACROSS OUR BORDERS INTO THIS COUNTRY, TO THE VIOLENT STREET GANGS THAT SELL THE DEADLY POISON IN OUR LOCAL NEIGHBORHOODS, AND TO THE CORRUPT DOCTORS IN ROGUE PHARMACIES INVOLVED IN THE DIVERSION OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. ALTHOUGH THE BUSINESS MODELS OF THESE GROUPS VARY, THEY ARE SIMILAR WHEN IT COMES TO THE DISTRACTION THEY CAUSE. THEY ALL SHARE ONE ADDITIONAL COMMON CHARACTERISTIC. THEY OPERATE ON BORROWED TIME. THE ALPHA BAY CRIMINAL NETWORK WAS YET ANOTHER CONTRIBUTOR SOURCE FEEDING THIS EPIDEMIC, SUPPLYING COUNTLESS ATTICS THROUGH DIRECT SALES AND SUPPLYING DRUG TRAFFICKERS TO RUN THIS COUNTRY AND OTHERS WITH LARGER QUANTITIES FOR REDISTRIBUTION. ALPHA BAY WAS THE LARGEST DARK MARKET PLATFORM OPERATING ON THE DARK WEB, RESPONSIBLE FOR APPROXIMATELY $1 BILLION IN ILLICIT SALES. A SIGNIFICANT PORTION WHICH CAME AS A RESULT OF PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF DRUGS LIKE FENTANYL AND HEROIN. AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BROUGHT UP, MORE THAN 250,000 LISTINGS FOR ILLEGAL DRUGS WERE ON THAT SITE AT THE TIME IT WAS TAKEN DOWN. THE DARK WEB SEEMINGLY ALLOWS FOR ANONYMITY AND CREATES EXTRAORDINARY CHALLENGES FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. BUT AS WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED IN THIS CASE, THESE CHALLENGES ARE NOT INSURMOUNTABLE. ALEXANDER LEARNED WHAT SO MANY OTHERS HAVE. HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION BY OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS DEMONSTRATE NO ONE IS UNTOUCHABLE. ELECTIVELY, WE WILL LEVERAGE OUR LEGAL AUTHORITIES AND CAPABILITIES WITH CONTINUED DETERMINATION TO IDENTIFY AND TARGET CRIMINALS WHEREVER THEY MAY HIDE, WHICH INCLUDE CYBERSPACE. WE ARE KEENLY AWARE THERE WILL BE ANOTHER ALPHA BAY. BUT WITH EACH INVESTIGATION WE LEARN MORE AND GET THAT HER. WE WILL CONTINUE TO PURSUE THESE-- THOSE ATTEMPTING TO HIDE BEHIND THE ANONYMITY OF THE DARK WEB. I WANT TO THANK THE DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN OF THE DEA AND OUR PARTNER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FOR THEIR INCREDIBLE WORK ON THIS PARTICULAR OPERATION. AND TO THE METAL -- MANY FEDERAL PROSECUTORS THAT WORK TIRELESSLY TO BRING THESE CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS. WITH THAT, I LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE YOUR POLL DIRECTOR -- THE EUROPOL DIRECTOR.

>> THANK YOU. ON THE FINAL SPEAKER, SO WE WILL HOLD YOUR ATTENTION FOR A FEW MINUTES MORE. THANK YOU TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, COLLEAGUES OF THE DOJ FOR INVITING ME TO BE A PART OF THIS EVENT TODAY. WE ARE PLEASED THAT EUROPOL PLAYED OUR PART IN COORDINATING THE INTERNATIONAL DIMENSIONS OF THIS GROUNDBREAKING OPERATION, ESPECIALLY IN EUROPE. AS YOU HAVE HEARD, THIS OUTSTANDING LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTION HERE IN THE U.S. TO BRING TO AN END ALPHA BAY WAS COORDINATED WITH SIMULTANEOUS ACTION IN EUROPE, AGAINST ANOTHER MAJOR MARKETPLACE. THE SHUTTING DOWN OF THAT, THE DUTCH AUTHORITIES ARE ANNOUNCING RIGHT NOW IN THE NETHERLANDS AT THEIR OWN PRESS CONFERENCE. THESE TWO CASES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED TOGETHER AND OUR JOINT HIT ON BOTH OF THESE DARK MARKETS IS ONE OF THE MOST SOPHISTICATED LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS AGAINST CYBERCRIME THAT WE HAVE EVER SEEN. SO THE SCALE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF, YOU HAVE HEARD OF THE FIGURES. ALPHA BAY AND THE MARKET BETWEEN THEM WERE TWO OF THE TOP THREE CRIMINAL MARKETPLACES ON A DARK WEB. TRADING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ILLICIT COMMODITIES, DRUGS, AND MANY OTHERS, THE DETAILS OF WHICH YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT. THAT IS 40,000 VENDORS DEPENDING ON THE MARKETPLACE TO SELL EVERYTHING FROM FENTANYL TO LEGAL FIREARMS AND MALWARE FOR CYBERCRIME ATTACKS. THEY COORDINATE A TAKEDOWN AND HAS PUNCHED A BIG HOLE IN THE OPERATING ABILITY OF DRUG TRAFFICKERS AND OTHER SERIOUS CRIMINALS AROUND THE WORLD. BUT WHAT MADE THIS OPERATION REALLY SPECIAL WAS THE STRATEGY WE RAN TO MAGNIFY THE DISRUPTIVE IMPACT OF THE JOINT ACTIONS. BETWEEN EUROPOL, FBI, DEA, DUTCH POLICE, THE TEAM PLAY THAT WE RAN HERE WAS TO TAKE OVER CONTROL OF THE HANSA MARKET UNDER DUTCH JUDICIAL AUTHORITY A MONTH AGO, WHICH ALLOWED US TO MONITOR THE ACTIVITIES, CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES OF USERS, WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE, AND THEN SHUT DOWN ALPHA BAY DURING THE SAME PERIOD. WHAT THIS MEANT, IN PARTICULAR, WAS THAT WE COULD IDENTIFY AND DISRUPT THE REGULAR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY THAT WAS HAPPENING ON HANSA MARKET BUT ALSO SWEEP UP ALL OF THOSE NEW USERS THAT WERE DISPLACED FROM ALPHA BAY AND LOOKING FOR A NEW TRADING PLOT FORM FOR THEIR CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES. IN FACT, THEY FLOCK TO HANSA IN DROVES. WE RECORDED AN EIGHT TIMES INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF HUMAN USERS ON HANSA IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE TAKEDOWN OF ALPHA BAY. SINCE THE UNDERCOVER OPERATION TO TAKE OVER HANSA MARKET BY THE DUTCH POLICE, USERNAMES AND PASSWORDS OF THOUSANDS OF BUYERS AND SELLERS OF ILLICIT COMMODITIES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND ARE THE SUBJECT OF FOLLOW-UP INVESTIGATIONS BY EUROPOL AND OUR PARTNER AGENCIES. SO AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT STRATEGY, THEREFORE, LEVERAGING THE COMBINED OPERATIONAL AND TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES OF MULTIPLE AGENCIES HERE IN THE U.S. AND AROUND EUROPE HAS BEEN AN EXTRA ORDINARY SUCCESS. AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE COLLECTIVE POWER WE CAN BRING A CONCERTED GLOBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY TO WORK AGAINST EVEN THE MOST CHALLENGING SERIOUS CRIMINAL ENTERPRISES. MY RESPECT AND ADMIRATION GOES TO ALL THOSE INVOLVED HERE IN THE U.S., THE NETHERLANDS, MANY OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES, AS WELL AS MANY OF MY OWN COLLEAGUES IN EUROPOL. THERE ARE THREE OTHER MAJOR IMPLICATIONS IN ITS OPERATIONS. FIRSTLY, THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE UNDERGROUND CRIMINAL ECONOMY HAS TAKEN A SERIOUS HIT. A MUCH BIGGER EVEN THAN WHAT WE SAW IN 2013 WITH SILK ROAD. SECONDLY, THE INTELLIGENCE WE HAVE YIELDED THROUGH THE MONITORING OF HANSA HAS GIVEN US NEW INSIGHT INTO THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY OF THE DARKNET, INCLUDING MANY OF ITS MANY LEADING FIGURES. WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH EUROPOL NEW INTELLIGENCE LEADS CONNECTED TO DARKNET TO ALREADY 37 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD. FINALLY, OF COURSE, AS YOU HAVE HEARD, THERE IS A VERY STRONG MESSAGE HERE. TO THOSE WHO ENGAGE IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY ON THE INTERNET AND THE DARKNET ESPECIALLY YOU ARE NOT AS SAFE AND ANONYMOUS AS YOU THINK YOU ARE. THIS OPERATION IS EXAMPLE OF THE IMPROVING CONCERTED ABILITY OF LAW OR SMITH TO STRIKE AGAINST CRIMINALS, EVEN ON THE DARKNET. EUROPOL'S STANDING OF A NEW INTERNATIONAL TEAM TO MONITOR DARKNET MUCH -- MARKET PLACES IN THE FUTURE. WHAT WE HAVE SEEN TODAY FROM THIS COORDINATED HIT AGAINST THESE TWO MARKETPLACES IS JUST A TASTE OF WHAT IS TO COME IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU.

>> ATTORNEY GENERAL SESSIONS, THIS IS NOT REALLY A NORMAL DAY. THE PRESIDENT MADE VERY DISPARAGING REMARKS ABOUT YOU, ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES, DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL YESTERDAY. GIVEN WHAT HE SAID, WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THOSE REMARKS, HOW SERIOUSLY ARE YOU CONSIDERING POSSIBLY RESIGNING?

MR. SESSION: WE IN THIS DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE EVERY SINGLE DAY TO WORK HARD TO SERVE THE NATIONAL INTEREST AND WE WHOLEHEARTEDLY JOIN IN THE PRIORITIES THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP -- HE GAVE US SEVERAL DIRECTIVES. ONE IS TO DISMANTLE INTERNET TRANSNATIONAL CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS. THAT IS WHAT WE ARE ANNOUNCING TODAY. DISMANTLING OF THE LARGEST DARK WEBSITE IN THE WORLD BY FAR. I CONGRATULATE OUR PEOPLE FOR THAT. I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING AS ATTORNEY GENERAL. IT IS SOMETHING THAT GOES BEYOND ANY THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE EVER HAD FOR MYSELF. WE LOVE THIS JOB. WE LOVE THIS DEPARTMENT. I PLAN TO CONTINUE TO DO SO AS LONG AS THAT IS APPROPRIATE.

>> ATTORNEY GENERAL SESSIONS, HOW DO YOU FEEL YOU CAN EFFECTIVELY SERVE FROM HERE ON OUT, IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE CONFIDENCE OF THE PRESIDENT?

MR. SESSIONS: WE ARE SERVING RIGHT NOW. THE WORK WE ARE DOING TODAY IS THE KIND OF WORK THAT WE INTEND TO CONTINUE. JUST LAST WEEK, WE ANNOUNCED THE LARGEST HEALTH CARE TAKEDOWN EVER IN THE UNITED STATES. WE HAD ALL THE MAJOR LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERS IN MY OFFICE YESTERDAY TO TALK ABOUT UNIFIED EFFORTS TO IMPROVE CRIME-FIGHTING WITH STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS. I AM TOTALLY CONFIDENT WE CAN CONTINUE TO RUN THIS OFFICE IN AN EFFECTIVE WAY. BUT I WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR YOU TO FOCUS NOW ON THE WORK OF THE INDIVIDUAL BEHIND ME, THAT HAVE HELPED BUT THIS CASE TOGETHER, SO THAT WE CAN CELEBRATE AND AFFIRM THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE, SO THAT WE CAN LEARN FROM IT, AND GET EVEN BETTER IN THE FUTURE.

>> DECK THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ROSENSTEIN, THE PRESIDENT TOLD A NEW YORK TIMES, THE FACT THAT YOU ARE FROM BALTIMORE CONCERNS HIM BECAUSE THERE. IS THAT A VALID CONCERN IN YOUR VIEW, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

MR. ROSENSTEIN: WE ARE WORKING EVERY DAY TO ADVANCE THE PRIORITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. PROUD TO BE SURE YESTERDAY, PROUD TO BE HERE TODAY, PROUD TO WORK YOUR TOMORROW. WE ARE SPENDING EVERY MINUTE TO ADVANCE THE INTEREST OF THE DEPARTMENT. AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID, WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS ALPHA BAY CASE, AN IMPORTANT CASE. WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS HERE THAT ASSISTED IN THE INVESTIGATION. THAT IS ALL I WILL TALK ABOUT TODAY.

>> ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT ALPHA BAY?

>> ARE YOU CONCERNED YOU WILL BE SEEN AS A ZOMBIE ATTORNEY GENERAL?