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It should help law enforcement agencies and policy makers allocate resources accordingly. The case was prosecuted by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura Crane and Assistant U.S. Attorney Connor Mullin. Additional assistance was provided by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the District of Rhode Island and the Southern District of Florida, the FBI’s Miami and Boston Field Offices, and the IRS-CI Cyber Crimes Unit. While SpecTor nearly doubles the head count of those previous roundups of dark web dealers, it also illustrates, perhaps, that even these massive crackdowns haven’t previously prevented new generations of dealers from immediately taking their places. Even as Garland, the attorney general, touted law enforcement’s repeated successes following those dealers’ trails, he seemed to concede that the dark web’s trade in criminal contraband isn’t going away.
Understanding Darknet Drug Trafficking
The phenomenon of darknet drug trafficking has emerged as a significant challenge for law enforcement and society at large. The darknet, part of the deep web, is a concealed section of the internet that requires specific software and configurations to access, commonly employing anonymity tools such as Tor.
Here is a posting from the 6th ranked vendor on RuTor, ‘Crystal-Mafia’ that shows what the drug looks like. Around the beginning of Q3 2022, multiple drug shops were identified in the Dark Web providing customers with a customized Android-based mobile app for purchases and secure communications, as well as sending instructions to couriers. The significance of this new trend is increasing OPSEC measures (of threat actors) and a visible shift from traditional communications channels to proprietary (developed by other actors operating in Dark Web). In such case, bad actors control communications infrastructure, may easily destroy/wipe it, as well as get rid of mobile devices.
It is worth mentioning, another actor with the alias Wazawaka was presumably responsible for a similar attack against the now closed Hydra marketplace back in 2018. Over the summer 2022, most of these new markets were primarily fighting for brand recognition, much like a ‘cyber-90s’ type of environment. Notably, a dominating number of actors moved from Hydra to other marketplaces, and started leveraging alternative digital channels – customized mobile apps and Instant Messengers (IM) including Telegram. Even though this activity originated on the dark web, it can still lead to the same dangerous drug-related violence in our neighborhoods that we see far too often,” District Attorney Alvin Bragg said in a statement. One of the largest-ever dark web drug-peddling operations — raking in $7.2 million through cryptocurrency exchanges — has been shut down, and its Queens ringleader and four others charged, Manhattan prosecutors said.
Last year, more than 90,000 people in the U.S. died of drug overdoses, a 30% increase over 2019, according to federal statistics. Last month, the Justice Department announced charges against the Sinaloa Cartel, a notorious drug trafficking organization based in Sinaloa, Mexico, and its facilitators around the world. For the first time, the FBI deployed agents around the country to “knock and talk” with numerous buyers of drugs on the darknet and to warn them about the dangers of their drug buys, FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate said.
When I analysed 120,000 customer reviews made on the site earlier this year, more than 95% scored 5/5. According to one study, which compared average drugs prices on Silk Road from vendors in a number of countries to the average street price there, marijuana costs a little more online, although cocaine was significantly cheaper. But the overwhelming consensus among users of the site is that the quality of the product is far higher and its purity far more reliable – and that’s something most people will pay a little more for. Although it used to be a little tricky to set up, Tor now looks and feels like any other web browser. True, it’s a little slower because of how it cloaks your identity (which entails bouncing your URL request around the world via several other “nodes” that use the same software) but that’s a price many are willing to pay for online anonymity. This little-known parallel internet is a natural home for an uncensored drugs marketplace, as it is for whistleblower websites and political dissidents who also rely on its powers of obfuscation.
Policy recommendations tailored to actual darknet market users should therefore be developed based on further research implemented in the communities of darknet markets. Interventions should then be integrated into a comprehensive drug policy framework that includes other elements, such as targeted harm reduction and treatment. “The Kingdom Market darknet site allowed criminals to move dangerous drugs in and out of our communities and use the digital world to hide their illegal activities,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Melissa McFadden of IRS Criminal Investigation’s (CI) St. Louis Field Office. “Collaboration with our global law enforcement partners is the key to disrupting drug trafficking, money laundering and the other illicit activities that occur on the darknet.” Holly Adams and Devlin Hosner of Indio, California, were charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and with conspiracy to launder money.
How the Darknet Works
A Tucson man and three others were recently sentenced in federal court to significant prison time for their roles in the organization, which used the secretive dark web, or “darknet,” to advertise and sell potent forms of the illegal drugs from about mid-2015 to March 2017. Federal officials announced a crackdown Wednesday on an alleged Los Angeles-based drug trafficking ring that they said distributed methamphetamine and other narcotics to thousands of customers in at least 35 states and numerous countries around the world via hidden darknet websites. “For an increasing number of young addicts, opioids are purchased not from local dealers but from pushers online,” Rosen said. “Hiding behind anonymizing software known as Tor, a new sort of drug kingpin now is able to reach more buyers than ever before, through online marketplaces peddling every sort of illicit good and service imaginable.” Resecurity forecasts an active growth curve in the Dark Web ecosystem centered around illegal drugs and counterfeit pharmaceuticals in light of post-pandemics and complicated geopolitical agendas preventing law enforcement from operative cooperation.
Within this hidden landscape, a range of illegal activities takes place, including the sale of drugs. Here are some key aspects:
- Anonymity: Users often leverage cryptocurrency for transactions, ensuring that their financial identities remain hidden.
- Access: Specialized browsers like Tor enable users to navigate the darknet, protecting their identities from prying eyes.
- Marketplaces: A variety of online platforms host listings for drugs, with user ratings and reviews to help buyers navigate their options.
Types of Drugs Commonly Traded
Among the myriad substances available, certain categories dominate the darknet drug trafficking landscape:
- Trade is booming despite disruptions from law enforcement and particularly “exit scams”, in which market admins abruptly close down sites and take all available funds.
- The FBI estimates the group sold 33.9 kilograms of fentanyl in five months in 2019.
- Of the more than 110 darknet drug markets active from 2010 to 2019, just ten remained fully operational by 2019.
- Stimulants: Cocaine and methamphetamine are frequently sold due to high demand and profit margins.
- Opiates: Heroin and synthetic opioids like fentanyl have become increasingly accessible, posing significant health risks.
- Hallucinogens: Substances such as LSD and psilocybin mushrooms attract users seeking altered states of consciousness.
- Research Chemicals: New psychoactive substances are constantly emerging, marketed as legal alternatives to traditional drugs.
The Impact of Darknet Drug Trafficking
The ramifications of darknet drug trafficking extend beyond individual users, impacting society in various ways:
- Public Health Crisis: The availability of potent and often adulterated drugs contributes to rising overdose rates.
- Organized Crime: Many darknet marketplaces are linked to larger criminal organizations and their activities.
- Law Enforcement Challenges: The anonymous nature of transactions complicates efforts to track and arrest perpetrators.
Scientists Find Darknet Drug Markets Have Little Influence On Global Trafficking
Law Enforcement Responses
Authorities globally have adopted various strategies to combat darknet drug trafficking, including:
- Infiltration: Undercover operations aimed at infiltrating marketplaces and gathering evidence.
- International Cooperation: Collaboration between countries to tackle the cross-border nature of illicit trade.
- Monitoring: Increased surveillance of blockchain transactions associated with darknet activities.
FAQs about Darknet Drug Trafficking
Q1: What is the darknet?
A1: The darknet is a segment of the internet not indexed by standard search engines, typically accessed using specialized software for anonymity.
Q2: Why is drug trafficking on the darknet appealing?
A2: The darknet offers a level of anonymity that traditional methods of drug dealing do not, making it safer for both buyers and sellers.
Q3: How do buyers ensure the quality of drugs purchased from the darknet?
A3: Users often rely on reviews and ratings on marketplaces, similar to e-commerce platforms, to assess the credibility of sellers.
Q4: Can law enforcement track darknet transactions?
A4: While challenging, law enforcement agencies have developed methods to monitor transactions, especially those involving cryptocurrency.
Q5: What are the dangers of purchasing drugs from the darknet?
A5: Risks include potential legal repercussions, exposure to dangerous substances, scams, and issues related to the quality and purity of drugs.
The landscape of darknet drug trafficking remains dynamic and complex, posing a constantly evolving challenge in the fight against drug-related crime. Understanding this environment is crucial for developing effective strategies to mitigate its impact.
