Darknet Drug Trafficking: A Growing Concern

Notably, a dominating number of actors moved from the now closed Hydra to new marketplaces, and have started leveraging alternative digital channels – customized mobile apps and Instant Messengers (IM) including Telegram. Some channels have been identified by Resecurity; they are oriented towards English / German speaking audiences. The ecosystem of drug sales on the Dark Web pose threats internationally, several epicenters primarily concentrated in Eurasia and Central Asia and actively used for drugs trafficking are outlined in the report.

In recent years, the use of the darknet for illicit activities has become increasingly prevalent. One such activity is darknet drug trafficking, which has grown into a significant concern for law enforcement agencies worldwide.

What is Darknet Drug Trafficking?

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Darknet drug trafficking refers to the buying and selling of illegal drugs on the darknet, a part of the internet that is intentionally hidden and requires specific software, configurations, or authorization to access. The darknet is not indexed by search engines and can be accessed using the Tor network, which provides anonymity to its users.

How Does Darknet Drug Trafficking Work?

Trust Factors And Hypotheses

According to the published statement from WayWay, the new marketplace will become one of the most secure decentralized marketplaces with very attractive conditions for both sellers and buyers having 0% commissions, as well as no fee for opening a new shop on the platform. The reason behind the creation of the new marketplace is not yet completely clear, but likely could be interpreted as an expanding influence of WayWay organizers with the goal to capture a significant illegal drug market share in the Dark Web and diversification of their operations. The operation allowed law enforcement to secretly track drug sales and payments made on the marketplace, as well as analyze communications between the market’s operator and vendors. It was through this investigation that law enforcement identified Desnica as the operator of Monopoly Market. The challenge for law enforcement agencies is that drug trafficking organizations-or DTO’s as they are known are adept that working the dark web to sell fentanyl and coming up with the next police workaround. The Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement group targets illegal drug sales from the underbelly of the internet, a bootleg marketplace where opioids, cocaine, guns and many things illegal are readily available.

Darknet drug trafficking typically involves the use of cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, to purchase drugs from vendors who operate on darknet marketplaces. These marketplaces are designed to provide anonymity to both buyers and sellers, making it difficult for law enforcement agencies to track and prosecute those involved in the illegal activity.

The ease of access to these marketplaces and the anonymity they provide has led to a significant increase in darknet drug trafficking, with a recent report estimating that the global darknet drug market is worth over $300 million.

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The Impact of Darknet Drug Trafficking

Darknet drug trafficking has significant consequences for both individuals and communities. The illegal drugs sold on these marketplaces are often of poor quality, leading to serious health risks for those who consume them. Additionally, the anonymity provided by the darknet can make it easier for dangerous drugs, such as fentanyl, to enter the market, putting lives at risk.

The impact of darknet drug trafficking is not limited to the individuals who purchase and consume the drugs. The illegal proceeds from these sales can be used to fund other criminal activities, such as terrorism and organized crime, posing a significant threat to national security.

Illegal drug sales online are not only commonplace, but also tough to detect, according to a recent University of Texas study. With an uptick in the use of opioid painkillers, fentanyl, and heroin, lead University of Texas study author Tiffany Champagne-Langabeer states this is fueling the opioid epidemic. The reason that law enforcement struggles to crack down on these online drug sales is the fact they are conducted out of plain sight on the dark web. We’ll give you a snapshot into these online marketplaces, but first a few words on opioids, the cause of current concern in the wake of recent research. Drug sales on the dark web now amount to 315 million dollars annually, up from 80 million dollars annually just in 2017. In 2015, Gareth Owenson, a leading academic expert in the UK on the Dark Web, reported that 15.4% of indexed websites in the dark web were drug-related, despite the very low rate of hidden service requests for darknet markets related to drugs in comparison to, for example, some form of criminal abuse.

Combating Darknet Drug Trafficking

How Do People Access The Dark Web?

The EMCDDA said authorities had seized 181 tons of cocaine in 2018 (the last year covered in the 2020 report), 40 tons more than in 2017; heroin seizures almost doubled during that same period. Buying drugs from professional-looking sites with user ratings, proceed-to-carts and customer-service buttons makes sourcing cocaine a lot like buying a DVD or doing your weekly shop. International collaboration efforts became instrumental in dismantling major drug networks operating on the Darknet. Shared intelligence, coordinated operations, and the pooling of resources facilitated the identification and apprehension of key players in the Darknet drug empire.

Combating darknet drug trafficking requires a multi-faceted approach that involves law enforcement agencies, policymakers, and technology companies. Law enforcement agencies must work to identify and prosecute those involved in darknet drug trafficking, while policymakers must develop regulations that address the unique challenges posed by the darknet.

• But the darknet has the potential to fundamentally change these routes, so there is great interest among researchers, law enforcement agencies, and policy makers about how the changes are happening.
• Due to the recent Hydra closure, we have created Telegram bots and increased the number of operators to service all of your cities.
• The developed system may also applicable for other law enforcement applications, such as combating gang violence and human trafficking.

That kind of on the ground legwork by police and federal agents is what led to the Midway Airport arrests and fentanyl seizure. This week federal law enforcement took down hundreds of darknet traffickers around the world and a pair of accused dealers traveling through Midway Airport. The cryptomarkets are of interest partly because they alter the practical calculus around drug diffusion and partly because they contribute to the formation of digitally enabled drug use which emphasises a consumer relationship between buyer and seller.

Technology companies also have a role to play in combating darknet drug trafficking. By developing and implementing technologies that can detect and prevent the use of the darknet for illegal activities, these companies can help to reduce the prevalence of darknet drug trafficking and protect individuals and communities from its harmful effects.

Andres Bermudez, 37, of Palmdale, allegedly supplied methamphetamine to the “Stealthgod” crew, was named in a criminal complaint filed Sept. 18. An affidavit in this case outlines how Bermudez allegedly supplied methamphetamine to the “Stealthgod” drug trafficking organization and details negotiations involving transactions of 30 pounds and 40 pounds of methamphetamine. As with everything else during the year of the Covid-19 pandemic, contactless drug peddling was identified as an accelerating trend.

In conclusion, darknet drug trafficking is a growing concern that requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders to address. By working together, we can combat this illegal activity and protect individuals and communities from its harmful consequences.