Understanding the Darknet Drug Market
- “The best way to protect yourself from counterfeit prescription drugs is to only buy medications from reputable sources,” warned Resecurity.
- Darknet drug trafficking involves the use of a commercial website to sell illegal drugs.
- With no clear market leader right now and the reputation of all platforms (and vendors) being volatile, this is a risky period for people who purchase counterfeit substances, low-quality ingredients, or something different from what they ordered, ultimately being extremely dangerous.
The darknet drug market is a clandestine online marketplace where illegal drugs are bought and sold, often using cryptocurrencies to maintain anonymity. This environment is unregulated and operates outside the law, attracting a variety of users, from casual buyers to serious traffickers.
A few weeks before, Dream – the longest running and largest market – was closed under mysterious circumstances. “The ecosystem of drug sales on the dark web poses threats internationally, [with] several epicenters primarily concentrated in Eurasia and Central Asia and actively used for drug trafficking,” said Resecurity. Additionally, where non-compliant cash out points are facilitating the movement of illicit funds from DNMs, regulators and law enforcement may take action to disrupt activity at the cash out point itself. For example, concurrent with the takedown of Hydra was the sanctioning of Garantex, the Moscow-based exchange that made multiple transactions with Hydra-linked addresses.
Characteristics of Darknet Drug Markets
To be given such a role in just six months tells me OxyMonster was not new to the scene. No sensible site admin is going to give access to someone they knew nothing about six months ago ‘cause they could be anyone. That’s the thing about these dark markets; anyone could really be anyone, including undercover police agents. The DEA, FBI, and NCA are known to have their agents on undercover missions posing as buyers and vendors because they can use the anonymity of the dark markets to their advantage, hiding in with everyone else, watching and collecting data. In fact, in early 2016, the DEA started creeping around inside the Dream Market.
What Types Of Marketplaces Can You Find On The Dark Web?
Instead of meeting or mailing, sellers hid the packages in locations across the urban landscape, such as parks, streets and yards of multi-apartment buildings, and then put the listing on their page on Hydra. What customers bought were coordinates and instructions to find the product. AlphaBay was relaunched by DeSnake in August 2021 with a new design but with the same admin as before and is once again planning to become the biggest darknet market in history. 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.
These illegal shopping platforms, which gained popularity in the dark web in 2011 with Silkroad, which we call the first modern DWM, have increased their activity until today. After the Silkroad closed with the FBI operation in 2013, big names such as RAMP, one of the longest-lived dark web markets, and Hydra emerged and were later taken down. The closure of these illegal markets resulted from the operations carried out a significant blow to the dark web activities.
Displaying discount prices or waiving shipping fees can act as a marketing ploy. Another trust-building factor is offering a wide range of products so that customers can choose between, for example, goods of lower or higher quality or from various manufacturers. The importance of weight, value, potency, purity, and price of drug products was highlighted by previous darknet studies as well (Bancroft & Reid, 2016; Munksgaard et al., 2022). In addition, assuring the customer that the vendor will refund the value of defective or unsuitable goods or that the vendor will replace it with an intact product is a guarantee which exists not only in legal web markets but also in most darknet markets (Bancroft & Reid, 2016).
Darknet drug markets share several defining features:
One month after the takedowns, OxyMonster became an official vendor on Dream Market and started shipping drugs to the US. With Hansa gone, he easily leveled up on Dream but what he didn’t know was that the DEA were watching what he was doing and trying to figure out who he really was. By August 2017, the DEA were following up on this tip jar Bitcoin wallet that OxyMonster was so keen to advertise.
Reddit probably advises users of the dark web forum to use a VPN and Tor. He writes that three of the five users the Feds are interested in were scammers who claimed to have secret information and offered to dox or attack the Evo admins (in exchange for Bitcoin payment, upfront) or who posted faked chats that Branwen said were actually rigged to deliver malware. Screen shot from Dread dark web forum advising users of ViceCity exit scam. Although more than 70 DWMs were observed at the end of last year, the four big Russian markets divide 80% of the total volume among them, while the western bitcoin-based market ASAP comes in 5th place with 7%. Anonymous browsing with a VPN or other encryption services will help hide your online activity from your government, ISP, or other prying eyes. The FBI seized crypto wallets of Silk Road users and arrested Ulbricht, collecting millions of dollars worth of Bitcoin.
- Anonymity: Users often utilize pseudonyms and encrypted communication to protect their identities.
- Cryptocurrency Transactions: Payments are largely made through cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, which offer a degree of anonymity not available with traditional banking methods.
- User Reviews and Ratings: Similar to e-commerce platforms, users can leave feedback on sellers, which helps establish trust and quality metrics.
- Wide Range of Products: Drugs available can vary from traditional narcotics to synthetic substances and even research chemicals.
- Marketplaces: Various platforms exist, each with its unique set of rules, user interface, and drug offerings.
How Does a Darknet Drug Market Operate?
The operational structure of a darknet drug market can be broken down into several steps:
- Accessing the Market: Users typically need to download the Tor browser to access sites hidden from standard web searches.
- Creating an Account: Some markets require users to create an account to buy and sell products.
- Browsing Products: Users can browse various listings, often accompanied by detailed descriptions and images.
- Making a Purchase: Once a buyer selects a product, they can place an order using cryptocurrency.
- Delivery Methods: Sellers may use deceitful shipping techniques to avoid law enforcement detection.
Challenges and Risks
While some may view darknet drug markets as a convenient way to access drugs, numerous risks exist:
- Legal Consequences: Purchasing illegal substances can lead to arrest and significant legal penalties.
- Scams: Buyers risk losing their money in transactions that result in non-delivery of goods.
- Quality Control: There is often no guarantee of product safety or purity, leading to potential health risks.
- Law Enforcement Crackdowns: Authorities constantly monitor these markets, leading to the shutdown of popular sites and arrests.
FAQs About Darknet Drug Markets
What types of drugs can be found on the darknet?
Users can find a wide variety of substances, including but not limited to:
- Heroin
- Cocaine
- MDMA
- PCP
- Research chemicals
Is it safe to buy drugs from the darknet?
Purchasing from darknet markets is generally unsafe due to risks of scams, law enforcement actions, and the potential for dangerous substances being sold.
How do sellers ensure anonymity?
Sellers utilize various methods to maintain anonymity, such as:
- Using fake identities
- Employing privacy-oriented tools
- Shipping items in discreet packaging
In summary, while the darknet drug market presents an accessible avenue for illicit substance acquisition, it is fraught with dangers and ethical considerations that potential users should carefully weigh.
