About This Article
Zoom Testing has provided drug testing information and guidance for over 20 years. This archived news article reports on the 2017 arrest of Gal Vallerius, who was accused of operating under the name OxyMonster on the dark web marketplace Dream Market. The original reporting has been preserved as a record of events at the time.
Originally published: 29 September 2017 | Reviewed: 17 October 2026 | By: Anthony Cunningham
From the Zoom Testing Archive: This article was originally published on 29 September 2017 and records the arrest of a suspected dark web drug dealer and the circumstances being reported at that time. The investigation, legal proceedings and operation of dark web marketplaces may have developed significantly since publication. The article is retained for historical reference and should not be interpreted as current news. For current drug testing information and guidance, please see our latest articles.
A Frenchman visiting America to take part in the World Beard and Moustache Championship was arrested by US authorities for being a suspected drug dealer on the dark web.
As an anonymous operator, Gal Vallerius was known as the lord of the “dark web” online bazaar, where drugs like fentanyl, meth, cocaine, oxycodone and LSD were bought and sold by customers using bitcoin, a virtual currency.
The 38-year-old Vallerius travelled to Austin, Texas, from France in August 2017 to take part in the world beard-growing championship, a journey that led to his arrest.
He was arrested by police on 31 August 2017 and was linked to “OxyMonster”, his alleged online persona. Authorities suspected that he had used this persona to sell illegal drugs on the dark web, an illicit underground market.
The Tor browser was discovered on his laptop during a border search. Users take advantage of this browser’s ability to hide their real internet protocol addresses. Investigators also discovered log-in information for an eBay-style marketplace called Dream Market, where illegal drugs and paraphernalia were bought and sold. Authorities also reported that he had approximately $500,000 in bitcoin.
Undercover DEA agents had previously bought LSD, crystal meth and hydrocodone from vendors on Dream Market and had their shipments sent to Miami mailboxes by US mail.
During an investigation of the website, they uncovered a post by OxyMonster from 23 July 2016 entitled “Official Staff”. This helped make the account a focus of the investigation.
He had 60 previous sales on his profile at that time, along with a number of five-star buyer reviews. In his description, he stated that he would ship to “anywhere in Europe” from France.
Vallerius was alleged to have operated as a “moderator” and an “administrator” on Dream Market, which was a dark web site where buyers and sellers could make deals for illicit drugs in Europe and the US without having their real identities revealed. The underground website was more than a marketplace. It provided technical help, handled conflicts and allowed buyers to write reviews of vendors. Similar to eBay, Dream Market also took a commission as a percentage of each transaction.
On the Dream Market website, there were reportedly over 94,000 listings at the end of August 2017, which included illegal drugs like ecstasy, opioids and steroids.
Authorities in the US were also targeting other dark web marketplaces. Earlier in 2017, a joint international operation shut down two major underground online marketplaces, Hansa and AlphaBay.
Photo Credit: “DEA” by brettneilson, licensed under CC BY 2.0.
About the Author
Anthony Cunningham, BA (Hons), MA, is a UK-based drug testing expert and editor with over 20 years’ experience running Zoom Testing, a trusted source for accurate drug testing kits and testing guidance. He creates clear, evidence-based articles using UK legislation, workplace compliance standards and harm reduction best practices. Where possible, content is reviewed by testing specialists and compliance professionals to enhance accuracy and reliability, helping readers make informed testing decisions.
