The darknet, a part of the internet that is intentionally hidden and inaccessible through standard web browsers, has become a hotbed for illicit activities, including drug trafficking. Darknet drug trafficking involves the use of the darknet to buy and sell illegal drugs, often through cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
Rival DNMs then began launching ‘black PR’ campaigns against one another, they even resorted to DDoSing each other during last summer, with competitors disrupting OMG! RuTor hackers flaunted pilfered logs of WayAway’s user chats and mocked the ineptitude of the DNM’s admins. Due to the recent Hydra closure, we have created Telegram bots and increased the number of operators to service all of your cities.
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How Does Darknet Drug Trafficking Work?
The DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) have vowed to relentlessly pursue anyone involved in the distribution of fentanyl. In December Anton Peck, 29, of Boca Raton, Florida, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin. Federal fentanyl drug trafficking offenses are extremely serious, and can start at 5 to 10 years for a first offense.
Darknet drug trafficking typically involves the following steps:
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- Drug suppliers create online stores on the darknet to sell their products.
- Buyers browse these stores and make purchases using cryptocurrencies.
- The drugs are then shipped to the buyers through regular mail services.
After more than four years and two giant law enforcement busts, the Dark Web’s drug market is still just as robust as it was during the Silk Road’s heyday. In fact, according to a new study, it’s now moving well over $100 million of illegal substances a year, and it’s recovering from every new scam-induced setback and government crackdown faster than the last one. While total sales on all darknet markets increased in 2020, and again in the first quarter of 2021, data for the fourth quarter of 2021 suggest sales declined by as much as 50%.
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What Are the Risks of Darknet Drug Trafficking?
Darknet drug trafficking poses several risks, including:
- Exposure to law enforcement: Darknet drug trafficking is illegal and can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment.
- Quality and safety concerns: The drugs sold on the darknet may be of poor quality or even dangerous.
- Lack of recourse: Once a transaction is complete, buyers have little recourse if they are unhappy with their purchase.
The Rise Of Narcotics In Darknet Markets
FAQs
What is the darknet?
The darknet is a part of the internet that is intentionally hidden and inaccessible through standard web browsers. It is often used for illicit activities, including drug trafficking.
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.
How are drugs shipped through the mail?
What is mostly on the dark web?
The type of content that has the most popularity on the dark web is illegal pornography—more specifically, child pornography. About 80% of its web traffic is related to accessing child pornography despite it being difficult to find even on the dark web.
Drugs are typically shipped through regular mail services, often in packages that are designed to blend in with other mail. This makes it difficult for law enforcement to detect.
- Specialized dark web explorers (GRAMS, DuckDuckGo, Ahmia, Torch, Hidden Wiki, etc.) enable them to access their desired market platforms.
- In 2021, these malicious actors and international drug dealers made $3.1 billion in crypto through these dark web sources, but in 2022, they only made approximately $1.5 billion.
- Notably, the growing tensions between Solaris and WayWay have also been heating up as claims of possible money theft from Solaris appear the same month (December 2022), which later have been disputed by Solaris Administrators and interpreted as “geopolitical” and “fake”.
- Authorities reported seizing 850 kilograms of drugs—including the deadly fentanyl – €50.48 million in cash and cryptocurrencies, and 117 firearms.
What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency that can be used to buy and sell goods and services online. It is often used in darknet drug trafficking because it allows for anonymous transactions.
Is darknet drug trafficking safe?
No, darknet drug trafficking poses several risks, including exposure to law enforcement, quality and safety concerns, and lack of recourse.
How can darknet drug trafficking be stopped?
Darknet drug trafficking can be stopped through a combination of law enforcement efforts, education, and community engagement. It is important to raise awareness about the risks and consequences of darknet drug trafficking and to support efforts to shut down darknet marketplaces and prosecute those involved in the trade.
Is xylazine legal?
Xylazine is not a controlled substance under the CSA; however, it is subject to regulation under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and some state laws. Because xylazine is not scheduled under the CSA, DEA currently does not have the authority to control it.
