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The darknet is a hidden part of the internet that is not indexed by traditional search engines and is often associated with illegal activities. One of the most dangerous substances being sold on darknet markets is fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that is responsible for numerous overdose deaths.
What is Fentanyl?
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This year’s law enforcement operation was accompanied by a public awareness campaign called Operation ProtecTor aimed to promote public safety and spread awareness of resources for those struggling with substance abuse and who go through extreme lengths to obtain opioids. JCODE has worked with every FBI field office in the country to facilitate outreach to households that have purchased individual amounts of opioids from the darknet. The interagency efforts are aimed to both identify those who use anonymizing technologies to purchase illicit narcotics and direct them to available resources. Flashpoint analysts assess with a moderate degree of confidence that a portion of the remaining underground markets will likely ban the sale of fentanyl on their sites in an attempt to decrease law enforcement scrutiny. A handful of markets will, however, likely continue to sell fentanyl products due to high demand for the drug.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent. It is typically used to treat severe pain, particularly in patients who are already tolerant to other opioids. However, illicitly manufactured fentanyl has been increasingly found in street drugs, contributing to the rising number of drug overdose deaths.
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What Darknet Markets Sell Fentanyl?
What to do if your information is found on the dark web
There are several darknet markets where fentanyl is being sold illegally. Some of the most notorious ones include:
- Both sets of posts were sometimes written in French and used exclamation marks in the same way, too.
- Only two percent of all vendors identified over the span of their observation trafficked fentanyl.
- In a sting operation, British authorities intercepted a parcel containing 11,000 tablets of Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) with a street value of £80,000.
- People are in and out of the market in just a few minutes or seconds instead of years.
- Last year, I released a report highlighting how terrorists–particularly terrorists linked to Islamic State–were able to use the dark net to recruit members, plan attacks, and raise money.
- However, countries like Germany have similarly high rates of opioid prescriptions and yet, are not experiencing a shift from heroin to fentanyl, nor are they experiencing an increase in overdose deaths.
- AlphaBay: AlphaBay was one of the largest darknet markets before it was shut down by law enforcement in 2017. It was known for selling a wide range of illicit goods, including fentanyl.
- Dream Market: Dream Market is another popular darknet market that has been linked to the sale of fentanyl and other dangerous substances.
- Hansa Market: Hansa Market was also taken down in 2017 as part of a coordinated international law enforcement operation targeting darknet markets selling drugs, including fentanyl.
According to our historical darknet records, DeSnake had connections in Russia although his true identity and location was not publicly known. In cooperation with the FBI, the Royal Thai Police took steps to organize the extradition of the 24-year old Canadian administrator back to the United States. However, after Cazes was held for exactly a week at the Narcotics Suppression Bureau in Bangkok, reports of his apparent suicide surfaced. Bangkok vowed to conduct an autopsy, while US authorities had no interest in verifying the legitimacy of the suspect’s death. Here is a screen shot of a minimum deposit requirement to join a dark web marketplace. The good news is such platforms do not really last long, per the UNODC report.
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Is Buying Fentanyl on Darknet Markets Dangerous?
Police arrest 150 ‘high value’ darknet vendors
Buying fentanyl on darknet markets is extremely dangerous for several reasons:
- Quality Control: There is no way to verify the purity or potency of the fentanyl being sold on darknet markets, increasing the risk of accidental overdose.
- Legal Consequences: Purchasing fentanyl illegally on darknet markets can result in severe legal consequences, including arrest and prosecution.
- Health Risks: Fentanyl is an extremely potent opioid that can cause respiratory depression and death, even in small doses. Using fentanyl purchased from darknet markets is playing Russian roulette with your life.
The largest number of arrests — 153 — were made in the United States, followed by the United Kingdom with 55 and Germany with 52, according to the European Union law enforcement agency Europol, which coordinated the worldwide operation. The Elliptic report notes that the tens of millions of dollars worth of precursor sales it tracked on blockchains would likely be enough to manufacture enough fentanyl to, if distributed efficiently, kill every person on earth. An Arizona man was arrested this week after firearms and thousands of fentanyl pills were confiscated from his home. [MUSIC] One thing the DEA did discover when poking around in Gal’s social media was a slightly unusual interest; beards.
The year 2020 saw new highs with approximately 69,000 opioid-related deaths, 82% of which involved synthetic substances such as fentanyl. Similarly, the CDC reported a significant increase in law enforcement encounters involving positive tests for fentanyl, beginning in 2013. These statistics indicate that fentanyl is causing significant harm to U.S. citizens. The prominence of the dark markets means that the decisions made by its operators could have some impact on the broader distribution of synthetic opioids.
Conclusion
While the darknet may seem like a mysterious and intriguing place to access illicit goods, the dangers far outweigh any potential benefits. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, seek help from a healthcare professional or addiction treatment center. Stay safe and avoid the risks associated with buying fentanyl on darknet markets.
