Boston White Collar Criminal Defense Attorneys
Understanding Darknet Drug Trafficking
In recent years, darknet drug trafficking has emerged as a complex and illegal marketplace, where illicit substances are bought and sold anonymously. The darknet refers to parts of the internet that are not indexed by search engines and require specific software, configurations, or authorization to access.
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. The U.S. Department of Justice charged a 33-year-old citizen of Croatia and Serbia with allegedly operating a drug trafficking platform called Monopoly Market on the darknet. Background research tasks included learning from past drug lords, researching legal matters, studying law enforcement agency tactics and obtaining legal representation. With regards to the prospective market’s hosting, he recommends identifying a hosting country with gaps in their mutual legal assistance treaty with one’s country of residence, avoiding overpriced bulletproof hosting and choosing a web host with Tor support that accepts suitably hard-to-trace payment.
According to a popular DNM news aggregator, the trouble started when RuTor and OMG! “created a coalition to monopolize the market,” offering a bonus fee as high as 10% to vendors if they relocated their illicit shops there. Between June 2021 and August 2022, undercover Manhattan DA investigators made 11 purchases from FireBunny, including cocaine, MDMA and ketamine, which were shipped to Manhattan, prosecutors said. Crystal Blockchain also notes funds moving between different markets are also on the rise, indicating darkweb users might be trying to hide their bitcoin within the darkweb.
How Darknet Works
To find out, our recent study surveyed 13 darknet drug vendors, via online encrypted interviews. The currency of choice is bitcoin, the digital crypto-currency, which can be exchanged easily enough for real world currency, and offers its users a high degree of anonymity. To help keep buyers anonymous, other developers have created clever “tumbling” services, which are a sort of micro-laundering system that obscures who is sending bitcoins to whom.
To navigate the darknet, users typically rely on the Tor browser, which obscures their IP addresses and enhances privacy. This anonymity has fostered an environment where illegal activities, especially drug trafficking, have flourished.
Key Features of Darknet Drug Trafficking
In addition, the most recent year-end funding bill included a measure backed by Senator Hassan and Congressman Pappas to extend fentanyl analogue scheduling, in order to keep criminals from using loopholes to traffic deadly opioids. The Senator successfully worked to secure her bipartisan measure in the 2021 year-end funding bill to hold countries such as China accountable for facilitating America’s fentanyl-fueled substance misuse crisis. Senator Hassan also worked with her colleagues to pass into law the bipartisan INTERDICT Act, which has provided critical tools to Customs and Border Protection to help detect and intercept fentanyl and other illegal synthetic opioids. Law enforcement agencies worldwide are taking steps to combat the darknet drug trade. International cooperation, targeting vendors, using technology, sting operations, and education and awareness campaigns are some of the efforts being made to tackle this issue. While the dark web drug trade is a significant concern, these efforts give hope that it can be combatted effectively.
- Anonymity: Users can interact without revealing their identities.
- Cryptocurrency Transactions: Payment methods like Bitcoin help maintain stealth.
- Decentralized Marketplaces: Vendors operate independently but often aggregate on platforms.
- Customer Feedback Systems: Ratings and reviews help buyers choose reliable sellers.
The conspiracies relied on sophisticated technology to distribute and profit from a staggering quantity of pills pressed with fentanyl. Customers intending to buy drugs over the dark web typically access it through the onion router (Tor) in order to conceal their identities. Specialized dark web explorers (GRAMS, DuckDuckGo, Ahmia, Torch, Hidden Wiki, etc.) enable them to access their desired market platforms. The goods bought on the various darknet marketplaces are then typically paid for in cryptocurrencies, most notably bitcoins, which are also used for licit transactions on the open web. These cryptocurrencies can subsequently be used to buy other goods and services, or they may be exchanged for various national currencies. As much as effective changes in the operation of the drug market, cryptomarkets have been part of a generation shift towards PWUD integrating drug-purchase and consumption repertoires across multiple platforms, online and offline, of which cryptomarkets can be one element.
Christopher Hampton of Cerritos, California, was charged in November 2022 with leading an organization that pushed millions of fake pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine to thousands of customers on the darknet. Hampton operated on at least nine darknet marketplaces, according to court documents. Anton Peck of Boca Raton, Florida, was sentenced to 16 years in prison in December 2022 for allegedly peddling drugs from various darknet markets under the name Syntropy. He and two co-conspirators received cryptocurrencies before mailing parcels containing fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine to customers around the country.
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]. Easier availability may reduce temptations to hoard [37], but tendencies towards vendors selling solely or at discounted rates in larger quantities may counteract that. The benefits of making large purchases means that purchases are often made with the intent of social supply [38].
Major Platforms for Drug Trafficking
Several platforms have gained notoriety for facilitating darknet drug trafficking. Some of these have been shut down by law enforcement, but new ones continuously emerge. Notable darknet marketplaces include:
- Silk Road: The first major darknet marketplace, known for its extensive range of drugs.
- AlphaBay: Gained prominence before its takedown in 2017.
- Dream Market: Operated for several years before its closure in 2019.
- White House Market: One of the most popular remaining platforms as of 2023.
Challenges in Combating Darknet Drug Trafficking
Law enforcement agencies face numerous challenges in combating darknet drug trafficking:
- Anonymity of Users: The use of pseudonyms and cryptocurrencies complicates tracking criminals.
- Global Nature: Drug trafficking operates across international boundaries, necessitating cooperation among multiple jurisdictions.
- Technological Advancements: Criminals continually adapt their strategies and use advanced technology to evade capture.
Impact on Society
The impact of darknet drug trafficking on society is profound:
- Public Health Crisis: Increased access to various drugs can lead to addiction and overdose incidents.
- Organized Crime: The trade often supports violent criminal organizations.
- Economic Consequences: Governments spend significant resources on enforcement and public health initiatives addressing the fallout from drug use.
FAQs about Darknet Drug Trafficking
1. What types of drugs are commonly sold on the darknet?
Commonly sold drugs include marijuana, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and various synthetic drugs.
2. Is it illegal to buy drugs on the darknet?
Yes, purchasing drugs on the darknet is illegal in most jurisdictions and can result in severe legal consequences.
- However, the operation also looked to promote outreach efforts to people in households who have purchased drugs through the darknet and direct them to available resources, so they can get help and limit the death toll from drug overdoses.
- No dominant international darknet market has emerged since the “voluntary shut down” of Dream Market in 2019.
- As is typical on the darknet, many state that any listings of weapons for sale on Tor are scams.
3. How can law enforcement track darknet drug traffickers?
Law enforcement utilizes various methods, including undercover operations, analyzing transaction patterns, and collaboration with international agencies to track and apprehend traffickers.
4. Can I report darknet drug trafficking?
Yes, individuals can report suspected darknet drug trafficking to local law enforcement or specialized cybercrime units.
The realm of darknet drug trafficking poses significant challenges but also prompts discussions on regulating drugs, public health, and technological advancement. Understanding this clandestine market may lead to better strategies for prevention and intervention.
