Testing the first hypothesis highlights whether there are similarities or differences in the process of legal and illegal online shopping. Based on the answers to the related questions, we can highlight the most important trust factors in illegal trade. The first is that many dark web markets – though outwardly disassociating themselves from the fentanyl trade – continue to be either a willing or inadvertent intermediary for facilitating the purchase and sale of deadly opioids.
In recent years, the darknet has become a popular marketplace for buying illegal drugs. With just a few clicks, anyone can access websites that offer a variety of substances, from marijuana to cocaine to prescription medications. However, purchasing drugs on the darknet comes with its fair share of risks and consequences.
Background on Dark Web Marketplaces
- Drugs on the darknet have a better reputation regarding cleanliness (Bancroft, 2017; Munksgaard et al., 2022), and some form of harm reduction also derives from the communities formed around darknet markets (Aldridge et al., 2018; Szigeti et al., 2023).
- Only 30 percent of those who bought more than once sought out new vendors.
- Contact us to learn more about our expertise in identifying cybercriminals and mapping out the often complex networks they operate.
- He has advised numerous international organizations, public and private sector entities on future crime issues.
The allure of anonymity
Addiction and Mental Health Resources
One of the main reasons why people turn to the darknet to buy drugs is the promise of anonymity. Transactions are often conducted using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, making it difficult for law enforcement agencies to trace buyers and sellers. This sense of security can be appealing to individuals who want to avoid getting caught.
At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic has helped open up new avenues for criminal activity, from the greater vulnerability of home working to restricted access to venues and the use of vaccine passports. People are online more than ever and may also be more susceptible to illicit offerings. The recent boom in drug sales via social media and the dark web has given anyone, especially teens, access to a world of drug abuse. It’s also a world in which the buyer vs. seller is more often caught by law enforcement and faces legal consequences.
Quality control issues
What is the dark web and how do you access it?
Australia is so remote that sending drugs there is much more expensive, plus their customs officials are better at securing their border, notes David Décary-Hétu, a cyber-security expert at Montreal University. But the competition from an international market drives online prices below those on the street. Using the postal system makes arbitrage possible, says Nicolas Christin of Carnegie Mellon University. An enterprising dealer could, for instance, pick up a gram of heroin from the Netherlands for $75. If it makes it through customs into Australia, the price jumps to $288. Despite the elaborate precautions, until now cryptomarkets have tended not to last long.
Despite the convenience of buying drugs online, there are serious concerns about the quality and purity of the substances being sold. Since there are no regulations or oversight on the darknet, buyers have no way of knowing if they are getting what they paid for. This lack of quality control can lead to dangerous consequences, such as overdoses or poisoning.
Taking any unknown drugs is dangerous, but even more so when they come from the dark web. According to the website Expressvpn, the Deep Web contains 7,500 terabytes of information, compared to only 19 terabytes of information in the “surface web”. These include websites you access every day, like Gmail or Google Drive, or your bank account. The Washington-based Wilson Center has warned over the presence of thousands of extremist groups’ websites on the darknet, including neo-Nazis, and white supremacists. A record number of “dark web” drug traffickers were arrested last week thanks to a joint operation by the US Justice Department, Europol, and law enforcement officers from nine different countries across three continents, including Brazil and Poland.
Law enforcement crackdowns
Another risk of buying drugs on the darknet is the possibility of getting caught by law enforcement. While transactions may seem anonymous, authorities have been known to monitor these websites and track down both buyers and sellers. In recent years, there have been several high-profile busts of darknet drug marketplaces, leading to arrests and prosecutions.
Data Mining the Dark Web for Cocaine
Conclusion:
This demand can occur not only when ordering illegal products but also when buying sensitive products, such as health or sexual products. We have listed three factors under the anonymity and encryption category. The first is the encryption of the entire purchase process, i.e., the immediate deletion of online traces of the customer. The second is the prohibition of retaining purchase data, which embodies the demand expressed by the customer towards the vendor or the web market’s operator (Dordal, 2018; Espinosa, 2019).
While buying drugs on the darknet may seem convenient and discreet, it is not without its risks. From quality control issues to the threat of law enforcement crackdowns, users should proceed with caution when considering purchasing illegal substances online. It is always safer and wiser to avoid illegal drugs altogether and seek help if struggling with substance abuse.
