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A drug dealer caught as part of an international clampdown on the so-called “dark net” platform Silk Road 2.0 has been warned he could face jail.

Cei William Owens, was arrested with six other Britons last year by the National Crime Agency (NCA), hours after the FBI swooped on the controversial website’s alleged creator.

Owens, from Aberystwyth, appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to five charges.

The 29-year-old admitted supplying or offering to supply class A and B drugs - magic mushrooms and cannabis - as well as three counts of possession.

Online black market site

Despite his early guilty plea, Judge Keith Thomas warned the defendant that “all options remained open” when it came to sentencing.

RELATED: Welcome to the Dark Net: a lawless place where anything goes

Judge Thomas also granted a proceeds of crime application made by prosecution counsel Claire Wilks.

It gives police powers to seize any money or assets Owens made during his operation.

Owens, formerly of Aberdovey, was granted bail subject to several conditions.

He will be sentenced on July 24 ahead of a proceeds of crime hearing later in the year.

Online black market Silk Road was launched in 2011 and led to more than $200m (£126m) of anonymous online drug sales using the digital currency bitcoin.

Last month, its creator, Ross Ulbricht, 31, was sentenced to life by a US judge for a raft of charges including distributing drugs through the internet, conspiring to commit computer hacking and money laundering.

After the FBI took down the site, a second - called Silk Road 2.0 - was launched.

That platform has also been shut down by authorities in the US.

Series of UK raids

Following a series of raids in the UK last year, NCA bosses said criminals were mistaken if they thought the dark web provided a “safe and anonymous” way for them to peddle drugs.

Deputy director Roy McComb said: “It may take time and effort to investigate and build a criminal case, but we are determined to identify and prosecute people caught dealing drugs and committing serious crime using the dark web.”