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The dark web has gained notoriety for being a hub for illegal activities, including the buying and selling of drugs. While accessing the dark web comes with its risks, there are ways to navigate it safely if you are looking to purchase drugs online.
Understanding the Dark Web
They also typically use a virtual private network (VPN), which creates a secure “tunnel” for sending and receiving data across shared or public networks by configuring their computing devices as if they were directly connected by a private network. The dark web is a subset of the deep web, which is also not indexed by traditional search engines. Unlike the deep web, the dark web functions not only for security but also for anonymity. Its content is intentionally hidden and requires special browsers to access. So once your drugs arrive, you should always test them before use—even if you trust the person who sent them. Preferably, that means having someone on hand with naloxone, which has saved my life more than once.
Top 5 Dark Web Marketplaces to Monitor
The dark web is a part of the internet that is not indexed by traditional search engines, making it difficult to access through typical browsers like Google Chrome or Firefox. Instead, users must use special software such as Tor to access websites on the dark web anonymously.
Maryland man sentenced to over three years in federal prison for purchasing and distributing drugs through the dark web
How to Access the Dark Web
You can die if you get a pill from an internet drug site like Silk Road that was made poorly or cut with fentanyl or other unsafe substances to maximize your dealer’s profit. For this reason, it is never safe to take street drugs or buy pills off the internet. This “digital underground” market makes purchasing drugs and substance abuse easy. It connects dealers and buyers through apps, online pharmacies, and location pins, provides them with free advertising, and even allows them to take payments digitally.
‘I’m using my past life to support and help people now’
To access the dark web, you will need to download and install a Tor browser on your computer. Once you have the Tor browser set up, you can begin exploring the dark web by entering specific URLs known as onion links.
Drugs and the darknet: perspectives for enforcement, research and policy
Researching Sellers
While these users might be deterred from purchasing drugs, the effectiveness of influencing the risk perception of actual darknet market customers who may be addicted drug users is questionable. Furthermore, deterring drug users from the darknet could lead to them buying drugs on the streets, which could be more dangerous from a health perspective. 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). Policy recommendations tailored to actual darknet market users should therefore be developed based on further research implemented in the communities of darknet markets.
Before purchasing drugs on the dark web, it is important to research and vet potential sellers. Look for vendors with positive reviews and ratings from previous buyers to ensure that you are dealing with a reputable seller.
Using Cryptocurrency
Dark Web Likely Isn’t Fuelling International Drug Sales
Along with concerns over the purity of products, another worry for those ordering drugs from the dark web is the authorities. UK law prohibits the purchase and possession of a range of drugs under the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act. And while search engines like Tor help shroud buyers in anonymity, many of the drugs they purchase are sent to their homes, introducing the risk that they could be seized by police or by customs officers. All the same, Doe says that the risk is relatively low – a sentiment confirmed by comment from St Andrews authorities. Silk Road was one such marketplace dedicated to creating a place in which buyers and sellers could operate independently and anonymously. Occasionally, international law enforcement agencies will seize marketplaces; you’ll get an FBI or INTERPOL homepage image when you try to access them notifying you of its seizure by LEOs.
In order to make purchases on the dark web, you will need to use cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin. This provides an additional layer of anonymity and security for both buyers and sellers on the dark web.
Final Thoughts
- Of those surveyed worldwide, 27 per cent admitted to obtaining drugs in this manner for the first time, with MDMA, cannabis, and LSD being the most popular narcotics ordered.
- A study conducted in 2016 by research firm Terbium Labs found that of the close to 200 domains it catalogued as illegal out of 400 randomly selected darknet sites on the Tor (The Onion Router) network, over 75% were marketplaces.
- Combining opioid jargon with known opioid product names [25-27], we generated an opioid keyword data set consisting of 311 opioid keywords with 13 categories.
- German authorities seized the site, which yielded a trove of new intelligence, they said.
Buying drugs on the dark web can be risky, but by taking precautions and following these guidelines, you can navigate the dark web safely. Remember to always research sellers, use secure payment methods, and practice good internet security habits to protect yourself while browsing the dark web. Stay safe and informed when making any purchases online.
