After his arrest, Chkalovsky agreed to forfeit $1.44 million to the Crime Commission in lieu of previously confiscated assets.
Mr. Chkalovsky also fit the profile of a typical dark web vendor busted by cybercrime detectives.
“They’re usually fairly educated and intelligent people, but they’ve never come across police radar before. They obviously have technical proficiency,” Smith said. said.
Luxurious lifestyle… Chkalovsky and his wife Hannah drove matching Porsche Cayennes. Credit: NSW Police.
Smith said Chkalovsky had been selling large amounts of cocaine, MDMA, crystal methylamphetamine and prescription drugs on the dark web since 2017.
“We could see from the comment activity that they were doing a fair amount of business. What you can see by looking at the activity on the darknet is that this particular vendor has been active for many years on places like Abacus Market and Incognito Market. That means he was doing it.”
The only person arrested by the task force was Chkalovsky, who ran a one-stop drug supply store, packed his own orders and mailed large quantities of small orders through a post office in Sydney’s east. It is said that
Chkalovsky was arrested at his Bondi Junction apartment. Credit: New South Wales Police
“It’s very labor-intensive work and it puts you at risk. You have to actually get into drugs at some point, and that’s the real vulnerability,” Smith said.
According to the agreed facts, from February 6, 2023 until his arrest on May 18, 2023, Chkalovsky had 209.06 grams of MDMA, 167.4 grams of cocaine, 44.05 grams of methamphetamine, 135.38 grams of ketamine, and 300 grams for supply. supplied or possessed. Desamfetamine tablets.
In 1991, Mark Chkalovski was a child at home with his mother, Kelly, a member of Lane Cove. Credit: Troy Howe
After police began to suspect Chkalovsky was the Os Coke King, the undercover agent became a customer and made 18 different orders, including “premium MDMA imported from Europe” and imported stimulants for a “limited time” period. used virtual currency for payment.
“We have determined that this individual was not dealing in just one product, but multiple types of drugs, which posed a real risk to the community.” said Smith.
Police still do not know where Chkalovskiy got the drugs, but given the large quantities sold, they believe it was most likely connected to local organized crime.
His arrest came despite adhering to the principles of the so-called “darknet bible,” including encrypted communications, virtual currencies, servers routed around the world, and the use of gloves to avoid forensic traces. I was disappointed.
Loading
“You can have all the anonymization technology in the world, but at some point you’re going to have to turn to drugs,” Smith said.
“This shows that all the protection in the world doesn’t actually protect you from the long arm of the law. We’re monitoring the darknet, and if you’re out there. We are determined to let people know that the risk of being arrested is very high.”
Chkalovsky is scheduled to be sentenced on Friday.
Kelly Chkalovsky has been contacted for comment.
