With the rise of online marketplaces, the dark web has become a hub for illicit activities, including the buying and selling of drugs. For those looking to purchase substances such as cocaine, marijuana, or prescription medications, the dark web offers a level of anonymity that traditional street dealers do not. But just how much do these drugs cost on the dark web?
The purer the heroin, generally the more expensive, but it’s not hard to sell something and say it’s pure, and then it’s actually laced with other substances. The drug trade, both real and digital, is not only recession-proof but liable to bloom in times of economic growth. We now have decades of evidence showing how drug markets will keep on going, whatever the economic or political weather. And while many governments have floundered and faltered, the online drug trade has come out fighting.
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The Variable Pricing of Drugs
- On the most popular global market, Empire, where many retailers offered lockdown deals, business has been especially brisk, with thousands of positive reviews about drug quality and speed of delivery.
- Consumption of illegal drugs is widespread globally, and it remains very difficult for local authorities to reduce the rates of drug consumption.
- All regressions were run with robust standard errors using the Huber-White sandwich method to account for a lack of normality in the dependents, heteroscedasticity, and data points with high leverage owing to the nature of the data collection process.
- It is one of many that have sprung up after the shuttering of Silk Road, the first major darknet market, and the arrest of its founder, Ross Ulbricht, who went by the alias Dread Pirate Roberts.
- “Benjamin Chen is the real deal,” someone identified as a customer wrote in a Facebook post in December 2018.
The cost of drugs on the dark web can vary significantly depending on a variety of factors. These factors include the type of drug, its purity, the quantity purchased, and the current demand in the market. While prices are constantly changing, some estimates can give us a general idea of what to expect.
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Cocaine
This classifies prescription medications according to their main indication or intended use in UK medical (not specifically psychiatric) practice. Where trade names and generic names are given they are presented in this table as separate to reflect the nomenclature on the markets, however when analysed on a product by product basis they are combined. For example, Xanax (brand) and alprazolam (generic) are combined together in Fig. These drug markets are clandestine dispensaries of illicit and dangerous substances that are sold in exchange for cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin.
Cocaine is one of the most popular drugs available on the dark web. Prices for this stimulant can range from $50 to $80 per gram for lower quality products, while higher purity cocaine can cost upwards of $100 per gram.
Marijuana
Silk Road 2.0
Marijuana is another commonly purchased drug on the dark web. Prices for cannabis products typically start at around $10 per gram for basic strains, with premium strains costing up to $20 per gram.
These were linked to over 5,100 opioid suppliers’ IDs and nearly 2,800 buyers’ IDs. ⁴ Child members on the family plan will only have access to online account monitoring and social security number monitoring features. That’s why many people today prefer an identity theft protection service in combination with a financial and credit fraud protection solution. It’s much more effective to catch early signs of fraud when you find out about new inquiries on your credit file, like new credit cards or bank loans, in near-real time. With Aura, you’ll receive instant notifications if someone opens a new bank account using your name, if unauthorized activities appear on your credit report, or if any of your sensitive data is compromised in the event of a data breach.
Prescription Medications
How to access the dark web safely
Total cash flow through dark web markets is hard to estimate, but indicators show it as substantial and rising. We’ve heard all the horror stories of unsuspecting victims losing their life savings or hackers selling cam footage on the deepest web corners, but it’s easy to think it will never happen to you. The sad truth is with the growing supply of personal information on the dark web, the likelihood and occurrence of devastating hacks increase every day. PayPal account details are easily the most abundant items listed on these dark web marketplaces, and as such, they’re extremely inexpensive to purchase.
Prescription medications, such as opioids and benzodiazepines, are also available on the dark web. Prices for these medications can vary greatly depending on the specific drug and dosage. However, it is not uncommon to see prices ranging from $1 to $10 per pill.
Market activity
Many dark web websites contain only information rather than the ability to buy or sell something. It is true, though, that cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Monero, are often used for transactions on the dark web. The Department of Law worked with representatives from Meta, Snapchat and TikTok to compile the report, as well as law enforcement, public health experts and harm reduction advocates.
Potential Influences of the Darknet on Illicit Drug Diffusion
It is important to note that purchasing drugs on the dark web comes with significant risks. Not only is it illegal in most countries, but buyers also face the possibility of receiving counterfeit or harmful substances. Additionally, law enforcement agencies actively monitor these online marketplaces, increasing the chances of being caught.
While the allure of easy access and anonymity may be tempting, individuals considering purchasing drugs on the dark web should carefully weigh the potential consequences before proceeding.