Meet The Mastermind Behind The Forum
Rui-Siang Lin, a 23-year-old from Taiwan, has been arrested for operating Incognito Market, a major dark web marketplace responsible for over $100 million in illegal narcotics sales globally.

Known online as "Pharoah" or "Faro," Lin was apprehended at John F. Kennedy Airport on May 18, 2024, and faced federal charges in Manhattan shortly after his arrest.

What Is Incognito Market

Incognito Market, which operated from October 2020 until its shutdown in March 2024, facilitated the anonymous sale of various illegal substances, including cocaine, methamphetamines, and misbranded prescription medications like fentanyl-laced oxycodone.

The platform was accessible worldwide via the Darknet, emulating legitimate e-commerce sites with features such as branding, advertising, and customer service to streamline drug transactions.

Authorities revealed that Lin managed all marketplace aspects, overseeing vendors, employees, and customers while profiting millions of dollars, all while he trained the authorities to fight crypto and cybercriminals himself as a form of sophisticated cover story.

The investigation into Lin's activities involved multiple agencies, including the FBI, DEA, HSI, FDA-OCI, and NYPD.
Undercover agents successfully purchased mislabeled drugs from the site, which were later identified as containing lethal substances.

Rui-Siang Lin's Arrest

In a dramatic twist during the market's final days, Lin attempted to extort its users, demanding payments ranging from $100 to $20,000 to prevent the disclosure of their transactions.
This extortion attempt underscored Lin's reckless prioritization of profit over public safety.

Law enforcement officials emphasized Lin's arrest is part of a broader effort to dismantle illegal online marketplaces.
If convicted, Lin faces severe penalties, including life imprisonment, for charges that include running a continuing criminal enterprise, narcotics conspiracy, and money laundering.

His arrest marks a significant victory in the ongoing battle against dark web drug trafficking and serves as a warning to others who seek to exploit the anonymity of the internet for illegal purposes.

Attached are extracted OSINT indicators about the market and Rui-Siang Lin:

1. Subject Information:

* Name: Rui-Siang Lin
* Alias: "Pharoah" or "Faro"
* Age: 23 years old
* Nationality: Taiwan
* Arrest Location: John F. Kennedy Airport
* Arrest Date: May 18, 2024

2. Criminal Activities:
* Operated: Incognito Market (Dark Web Marketplace)
* Operation Period: October 2020 - March 2024
* Illegal Sales: Over $100 million in narcotics
* Narcotics Sold: Cocaine, methamphetamines, misbranded prescription medications (e.g., fentanyl-laced oxycodone)
* Extortion: Demanded payments ($100 - $20,000) to prevent transaction disclosures

3. Platform Characteristics:

* Features: Branding, advertising, customer service

* Accessibility: Global via the Darknet

4. Law Enforcement Involvement:

* Agencies: FBI, DEA, HSI, FDA-OCI, NYPD
* Undercover Operations: Agents purchased mislabeled drugs containing lethal substances

5. Legal Charges:

* Running a continuing criminal enterprise

* Narcotics conspiracy
* Money laundering
* Potential Penalty: Life imprisonment

6. Miscellaneous:
* Managed marketplace aspects: Vendors, employees, customers
* Profited millions of dollars
* Sophisticated cover story: Trained authorities to fight crypto and cyber criminals