Market Types
The small manila envelope looks the same as countless other parcels the postal service delivers each day. Erika Rasure is globally-recognized as a leading consumer economics subject matter expert, researcher, and educator. She is a financial therapist and transformational coach, with a special interest in helping women learn how to invest. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. The largest number of arrests were made in the U.S., which is in the grips of an overdose crisis. Synthetic opioids, mostly fentanyl, kill more Americans every year than died in the Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined.
Users of the dark web employ technology to obfuscate their identity, including the Tor browser, which routes users through multiple relays to hide their locations and IP addresses. They also typically use a virtual private network (VPN), which creates a secure “tunnel” for sending and receiving data across shared or public networks by configuring their computing devices as if they were directly connected by a private network. Those unfamiliar with the dark web may wonder how it operates and whether it poses a greater threat in the opioid crisis than the surface web. LegitScript investigative analysts explored this issue earlier this year when we conducted in-depth research on dark web opioid sales on behalf of the Center for Safe Internet Pharmacies (CSIP).
They can then navigate to their preferred hidden website and browse its listings. All of this can be done from the comfort of their own home, to which their drugs can be delivered in discreet packaging a few days after their order has been placed. Cryptomarkets, anonymous online markets where illicit drugs are exchanged, have operated since 2011, yet there is a dearth of knowledge on why people use these platforms to sell drugs, with only one previous study involving interviews with this novel group. Compared with legal online markets, trust in cryptomarkets lies more with sellers than with the platform on which they operate.
Understanding the Dark Web Drugs Trade
The term dark web drugs refers to the illicit market for narcotics and other controlled substances that exist on the hidden parts of the internet. This form of online drug trafficking has grown significantly in recent years, attracting both buyers and sellers looking for anonymity.
Buy login credentials to a $50,000 Bank of America account, counterfeit $20 bills, prepaid debit cards, or a “lifetime” Netflix premium account. The combination of the data protection offered by the dark web and cryptocurrencies has encouraged a boom in illegal marketplaces on the darknet, according to the experts – though this is still a small part of the global illicit trade. A total of 15 per cent of respondents said they had bought their drugs from darknet marketplaces. Until now, international authorities had faced the challenge posed by drug trafficking on the dark web by shutting down the websites used to manage such illegal business.
Theeconomist1 speculates that vendors for RC and possibly alp buy the chemicals overseas (often from China), press them into pills, and then sell the final (or intermediate product) on the web. That makes it feasible for him to cultivate abandoned houses as drug delivery destinations. Most buyers just have the drugs shipped to their homes (especially if it’s a small amount) or to a friend’s house or PO box. A Quartz summer intern said that at his university, different frat houses had agreements to receive each other’s drug shipments.
The Nature of the Dark Web
The dark web is a segment of the internet that requires specific software, configurations, or authorization to access. It is infamous for its unregulated activities, including the sale of illegal drugs. Key features include:
- Anonymity: Users often rely on Tor and other tools to mask their IP addresses.
- Cryptocurrencies: Transactions mostly occur in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies, providing an added layer of obscurity.
- Decentralization: The absence of a central authority allows users to operate independently.
Popular Dark Web Drugs
The range of substances available on the dark web is extensive. Some of the most commonly traded dark web drugs include:
- MDMA (Ecstasy)
- Cocaine
- Heroin
- Fentanyl
- Methamphetamine
- LSD
“TOR” or The Onion Router is a browser that allows you to protect your identity while surfing online. TOR is used for many other things, other than just accessing the dark web. And, while there are many bad things on the dark web, there are some good things as well. The dark web is also anonymous in nature, meaning everyone’s identities are hidden throughout.
How Does the Dark Web Drug Market Operate?
The dark web drug market operates through various online marketplaces. Here’s how it works:
- Marketplaces: Websites like Silk Road, AlphaBay, and Dream Market have historically been platforms for buying and selling drugs.
- Escrow Services: Buyers deposit money into an escrow account, which is released to the seller upon successful delivery.
- Rating Systems: Similar to eBay, users can leave reviews for sellers, creating a reputation system that can help ensure reliability.
Risks Associated with Buying Dark Web Drugs
While the allure of convenience and anonymity is strong, there are substantial risks involved, including:
- Legal Consequences: Purchasing illegal drugs can lead to criminal charges.
- Scams: Users may encounter fraudulent sellers who take money without delivering products.
- Quality Control: There is no oversight, leading to the potential for contaminated or misrepresented substances.
- Cyber Threats: Engaging in dark web transactions can expose users to hacking and fraud.
FAQs about Dark Web Drugs
1. Is it safe to buy drugs from the dark web?
No, it is risky due to potential legal issues and the high possibility of scams or dangerous substances.
2. How can police track dark web drug transactions?
While the dark web offers anonymity, law enforcement agencies use various methods, including IP tracking, undercover operations, and analyzing transaction patterns.
3. What impact does the dark web have on drug abuse?
The accessibility of dark web drugs may contribute to an increase in substance abuse, especially among vulnerable populations.
4. Can dark web transactions be traced?
- There’s also a repository of material you can’t find on the surface web, from rare books to political news and whistleblowing sites.
- At the time of its closure, Silk Road processed around $15 million transactions a year.
- While prevention should target potential customers, survey research involving the users of darknet markets usually ends up being small-scale (Bergeron et al., 2022b; Karden & Strizek, 2022).
- The deep web is the 90% of the internet that lies below the surface, much like the way 90% of an iceberg lies below the waterline.
While they are challenging to trace due to the use of cryptocurrencies and anonymizing software, they are not completely untraceable.
In conclusion, the dark web drugs market represents a significant challenge for both law enforcement and society. As technology evolves, so too does the landscape of online drug trafficking, prompting ongoing discussions about regulation, safety, and public health implications.
