Kingdom Market charged vendors 500 Euros to start selling, then charged fees on sales. Transactions were conducted in cryptocurrency and Kingdom advised users in methods to conceal their transactions, the documents say. Elliptic researchers conducted blockchain analysis to examine the network cryptocurrency addresses those companies shared with prospective customers.
We observed that the marketplaces of Agora and Evolution shared 530 opioid listings from 290 unique supplier IDs. The opioid commodity with most listings across different marketplaces was #4 White Vietnamese Heroin, which can be found in the marketplaces Agora, Evolution, Hydra, and Pandora. Our goal here was to identify anonymous forum posts with the topics of opioid commodity promotion (eg, listing promotion) and review (eg, report fake opioid vendors). We then analyzed these forum posts to profile underground opioid trading behaviors.
Then there are mirror sites on the surface web that provide hyperlinks to corresponding hidden sites, and “invitation-only” markets where users need to be referred by a current user, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) says. “The disruption to the online supply of fentanyl in particular is notable,” Professor Broadhurst said. Professor Broadhurst says fentanyl is a designer synthetic opioid that can be up to 80 times more powerful than morphine. Carfentanil is not for human use and was originally designed to sedate elephants. AIC Deputy Director Dr Rick Brown said the research results highlight the importance of sustained law enforcement operations.
Understanding Darknet Markets and Fentanyl
The world of darknet markets is often shrouded in mystery and intrigue, yet it plays a significant role in the distribution of various illegal goods, including fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.
As illustrated below, the transaction volume of Chinese chemical shops correlates positively with fentanyl interdictions the next month at the U.S. southern border. There is no evidence of a similar association at the U.S.-Canada border, however, suggesting that these chemical shops might be facilitating production, distribution, and trafficking of fentanyl in Mexico and Central America, but not Canada. Keep reading to learn more about the role of cryptocurrency in fentanyl sales across the globe.
What is Fentanyl?
They estimate that fentanyl, an opioid pain suppressant, is up to 100 times more potent than morphine, in part by delivering a stronger punch in smaller doses. The fentanyl seized from the “Seinfeld” apartment came from Mexico, smuggled through California or Arizona. An alleged trafficker with Sinaloa ties, Francisco Quiroz-Zamora, is accused in an indictment of coordinating the loads from his home in San José del Cabo in Baja California Sur. The couriers are Mexican citizens, U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents and drivers with SENTRI passes, according to review of numerous border prosecutions. Some claim to be “blind mules.” Some know they are smuggling drugs, they just don’t know what kind. Some say they they drove the load across the border under threats of harm to them or their families.
Last year, together with German authorities, the DoJ seized Hydra Market, the world’s largest and longest-running illegal marketplace. “This represents the most funds seized and the highest number of arrests in any coordinated international action led by the Justice Department against drug traffickers on the dark web,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said. Earlier this year, police in Germany, Ukraine and the Netherlands, along with Europol and the FBI, announced a joint effort that led to raids on the homes of members of a the DoppelPaymer ransomware gang and the seizure of computer equipment belonging to its members. The FBI also worked with law enforcement agencies across Europe to take down Hive ransomware infrastructure in January.
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is used medically to treat severe pain, often post-surgery or in cancer patients. However, its high potency and addictive nature have made it a popular choice among illicit drug manufacturers and traffickers.
How Darknet Markets Operate
Darknet markets function on a decentralized network that requires specific software, configurations, or authorization to access. This anonymity allows users to buy and sell illegal substances with relative safety.
What Darknet Markets Sell Fentanyl?
Data Unleashed
Various darknet markets have been identified that sell fentanyl in numerous forms, including:
- Pills: Fentanyl is often pressed into pills that mimic legitimate prescription medications.
- Powder: Users can find fentanyl in powdered form, which can be mixed with other drugs or used on its own.
- Laced Products: Many sellers offer products laced with fentanyl, which can be highly dangerous.
Examples of Darknet Markets
Some of the well-known darknet markets where fentanyl has been sold include:
- Silk Road 3.1: Though it was taken down, it set a precedent for narcotics sales and was known to feature fentanyl.
- DarkMarket: This was one of the largest markets before law enforcement shut it down.
- Empire Market: Known for its range of illicit substances, including fentanyl products.
Risks and Dangers of Purchasing Fentanyl on Darknet Markets
Buying fentanyl on darknet markets carries significant risks:
- Quality Control: There’s no regulation, which means the purity and dosage can be unpredictable.
- Legal Consequences: Buying illegal drugs can lead to serious legal issues, including arrest and prosecution.
- Health Risks: The risk of overdose is high, especially with products that are tampered with or mixed with other substances.
- In the United States, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has set up a dark web intelligence unit that focuses on identifying drug traffickers on the darknet markets.
- This process thus draws on and brings together people’s cumulative experiential and subcultural knowledge, in common with other online drug-focused forums that discuss not just the quality of each drug, but what the drug is to them as a categorical object [36].
- Among them, suboxone and subutex medicines are most frequently mentioned by 2917 times in listings and traces in 10 platforms, followed by roxy series (ie, roxy, roxi, roxies, and roxys) with 2022 times and Lean with 1256 times.
- As an emergency physician, I give fentanyl as an analgesic, or painkiller, to relieve severe pain in an acute care setting.
FAQs
What is the reason for fentanyl being sold on darknet markets?
Fentanyl is appealing to drug users due to its potency and low cost, making it an attractive option for distribution on darknet markets.
How do users typically pay for fentanyl on darknet markets?
Transactions are often conducted using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin to enhance anonymity.
Are there safer alternatives to fentanyl available legally?
Yes, there are legally prescribed medications for pain management that may be safer and less addictive than fentanyl.
Conclusion
The sale of fentanyl on darknet markets poses significant dangers to users, both health-related and legal. It is crucial for individuals to understand these risks and consider the consequences of engaging with illegal marketplaces.
