Subsequent follow up action led to the apprehension of the duo and after a brief session of questioning, they confessed about the involvement in the drug trafficking, the NCB official said. Dutch cybercrime police team leader Nan van de Coevering said the intelligence helped police to start new investigations “as well as enriching current probes.” However, experts have seen a recent uptick in people using the dark web, as the Coronavirus has swept across the globe. COVID-19 has certainly made it more difficult for some regular users to obtain the drugs they are addicted to.
The dark web, a part of the internet that is intentionally hidden and inaccessible through standard web browsers, has become a hotbed for illegal activity, including the sale of drugs. Dark web drugs are easily accessible, often cheaper than their street counterparts, and can be delivered directly to a buyer’s doorstep.
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The Availability of Dark Web Drugs
Are you meeting guys like Felix Gallardo or Pablo Escobar in fancy hotel rooms? I’m not moving that level of product where guys like that would even know who I am. “As outlined in the report, geopolitics and drug trafficking have become inextricably linked, that’s why the volume of shadow economy in the dark web will [continue] to grow […] accelerated by ongoing tensions,” reads the advisory. Most of the other underground marketplaces examined in the report were observed primarily fighting for brand recognition.
The dark web is home to a vast array of online marketplaces, many of which specialize in the sale of illegal drugs. These marketplaces are often referred to as “cryptomarkets” because they typically use cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, for transactions. The anonymity provided by these cryptocurrencies, combined with the encrypted nature of the dark web, makes it difficult for law enforcement to track and shut down these illicit operations.
Cryptocurrencies, though not directly linked to the dark web, are often used for transactions on websites on the darknet. Authorities reported seizing 850 kilograms of drugs—including the deadly fentanyl – €50.48 million in cash and cryptocurrencies, and 117 firearms. Their investigation led them to arrest a total of 288 people across the world on May 2, with 153 in the US alone, which is currently in the grips of an opioid crisis that is killing thousands. Some 55 people were arrested in the UK and 52 in Germany, according to Europol. Experience Flare for yourself and see why Flare is used by organization’s including federal law enforcement, Fortune 50, financial institutions, and software startups.
HRB National Drugs Library
According to a report by the Global Drug Survey, the number of people using the dark web to purchase drugs has increased significantly in recent years. The report found that in 2017, 1 in 10 respondents had purchased drugs from the dark web, compared to just 1 in 50 in 2014. The survey also found that the most commonly purchased drugs on the dark web were cannabis, MDMA, and cocaine.
- They’re shopping for drugs on the so-called dark net, accessible not through traditional search engines but by way of special browsers and software that conceal IP addresses and make users harder to trace.
- You never know what’s in these substances, and they might be cut with harmful toxins or fentanyl, which is lethal in large doses.
- AlphaBay, which was the largest dark net market before it was shut down by law enforcement agencies around the world last year, accounted for $94 million US in drug sales from September 2015 to August 2016, Tzanetakis’s paper says.
- Likely due to language barriers, German vendors stock their websites full to the brim with as many products as possible.
The Risks of Dark Web Drugs
Data Availability
While the convenience and anonymity of the dark web may make it an attractive option for those looking to purchase drugs, there are significant risks associated with doing so. First and foremost, purchasing drugs from the dark web is illegal and can result in severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment.
Well, these marketplaces have been a reality since Silk Road disrupted the way people buy drugs back in 2011. Rather than the physical trade route the original Silk Road is famous for, the online version offered people the chance to buy almost any conceivable drug and have it delivered to their door via the regular postal system. When most people talk about the dark net, they usually mean Tor (short for The Onion Router). Tor supports multiple dark net forums and markets, including Silk Road, the first dark net market. To access the dark net, all you need to do is go to torproject.org and download the Tor browser. Instead of sites ending with .com or .org, you are now connecting to sites that end in .onion.
In addition to the legal risks, there are also significant health risks associated with purchasing drugs from the dark web. Because these drugs are produced and sold illegally, there is no way to verify their quality or purity. As a result, buyers may unknowingly ingest harmful substances or dangerous combinations of drugs.
Furthermore, because the dark web is largely unregulated, there is no recourse for buyers who receive faulty or misrepresented products. In contrast, purchases made through legal channels, such as pharmacies or licensed dispensaries, are subject to strict quality control measures and come with the assurance of a reputable seller.
Public–private partnerships need to be forged with participation from internet service providers, tech companies, and shipping and mailing companies to improve government response to drug trafficking on the internet, the UNODC report says. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, more than 60% of all trading on the darknet consists of illegal drug trafficking (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2021). Therefore, traffic trends in darknet markets seem to reflect changes in the importance of certain elements of horizontal trust between vendors and customers.
Conclusion
While the dark web may seem like a convenient and anonymous way to purchase drugs, the risks associated with doing so far outweigh any potential benefits. The illegal nature of these transactions, combined with the lack of quality control and recourse for buyers, make purchasing drugs from the dark web a dangerous proposition. Those looking to purchase drugs are strongly encouraged to do so through legal channels, where they can be assured of the quality and safety of the products they are purchasing.
