Australia considers extradition of Silk Road moderator

The Australian government is currently considering whether to extradite a 41-year-old man who allegedly moderated the hidden marketplace Silk Road to the US. The Silk Road was rolled up by the US last year.

It is now up to the Australian justice minister to determine whether the moderator should be extradited, Reuters news agency reported. The 41-year-old man, Peter Phillip Nash, did not protest the extradition to the US during a hearing.

The man is suspected of being part of a small group of people who moderated the Silk Road. The moderators would have received $50,000 to $75,000 per year. He is formally suspected of conspiracy to commit drug trafficking, computer hacking and money laundering.

On the Silk Road, which could only be reached via Tor, both legal and illegal goods were for sale, including drugs. Last fall, the site was taken down by the American justice system. Among other things, large amounts of Bitcoins were seized. The founder of the site has been arrested.