Dark Web Drug Seller Sentenced To 9 Years In Prison
Both men, in letters to the judge seeking sentencing leniency, said work-related injuries led them to the drug trafficking business. McCoy claimed he was injured and couldn’t work for a while, got hooked on his medications and hung around “the wrong crowd.” Ruelas said he was brought up in a religious family and worked hard to support his children. He said he began selling drugs to supplement his income from fixing up old cars. In Ohio, officials said they shut down a drug trafficking organization that operated under the moniker “Pill Cosby” and sold over 1 million pills laced with fentanyl.
In legal commerce, this is only relevant in terms of storing and managing data related to the purchase and the customer (Ilmudeen, 2019). Some online shoppers are only willing to provide their personal data at the point when they order the products but refuse to register and ask the seller to delete all information about them. Stealth becomes more significant in illegal than in legal commercial transactions, where invisibility can prevent exposure or embarrassment (Aldridge & Askew, 2017). This demand can occur not only when ordering illegal products but also when buying sensitive products, such as health or sexual products.
Understanding the Darknet Drug Trafficking Phenomenon
A darknet market operates as a black market, selling or brokering transactions involving legal products, as well as drugs, weapons, counterfeit currency, stolen credit card details, forged documents, unlicensed pharmaceuticals, steroids, and other illicit goods. According to court documents, from approximately January 2021 through May 2023, Cheerish Noel Taylor, 36, and Robert James Fischer, 35, ran the darknet monikers “SafeServe,” “Sky_HIGH,” and others across multiple darknet markets. During the course of the conspiracy, the conspirators made over 1,100 sales of controlled substances over the darknet using these accounts.
Drug traders list drug products by using a fixed template, which includes a few sections, including the name and the type of drug, the weight of the product, the location it’s shipped from, shipment details, and pricing. In an interview, Dempsey called the Northeast region of the country a “hot spot” for fentanyl. At Norwin Middle School on Feb. 2, Dempsey gave a presentation that included the dangers of fentanyl as a part of the DEA’s drug education program Operation Prevention. He said he gets calls two or three times a week from parents who have lost a child to opioid overdose. One of the first things he does when talking with parents who have lost a child in this way is to check their child’s phone. Postal workers and people living with drug purchasers could be put in harm’s way.
The term darknet drug trafficking refers to the illegal trade of drugs through hidden online platforms that operate on the darknet, a part of the internet that requires specific software to access.
“The actions of this Arizona-based drug trafficking organization fueled the opioid epidemic in communities all over the United States,” prosecutors wrote. The rise of narcotics in Darknet markets is a significant problem that requires urgent attention. The use of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology has made it easier for dealers to operate anonymously, and the availability of drugs has increased. The challenges of regulation and the need for international cooperation make it a complex issue that requires a coordinated effort to tackle.
The Darknet Explained
A decade ago, US law enforcement was content to swat down a dark web black market for drugs and send its dealers and buyers scrambling to the next biggest anonymous online bazaar on their list. Now, one sprawling set of worldwide takedowns has revealed how those investigators are casting a much wider dragnet—one that doesn’t merely target dark web administrators, but also mines their databases for leads to relentlessly trace and arrest hundreds of dealers from those markets around the world. It is common for darknet vendors to talk about their delivery and stealth methods to reassure customers that their purchases will be delivered as advertised and not seized by the authorities. However, vendors and marketplaces must balance revealing enough information about their concealment techniques to gain their customers’ trust while not exposing their methods and routes resulting in law enforcement interdiction.
The darknet is a component of the deep web, which is not indexed by traditional search engines. It is often associated with anonymity and privacy.
Key features include:
- Access through special software like Tor or I2P.
- Use of cryptocurrencies for transactions, enhancing anonymity.
- Presence of marketplaces where users can buy and sell illegal goods.
- The survey was conducted in the well-protected LimeSurvey data collection, analysis, and evaluation system.
- Other reputable sellers who joined Kraken include “Shiva” operating at least since 2014 in Dark Web.
- Authorities also said that any obstacles the coronavirus pandemic might have initially posed to drug trafficking had been quickly overcome, saying dealers and users had turned to the darknet when street dealing was affected by social distancing measures and lockdowns.
Mechanics of Darknet Drug Trafficking
Darknet drug trafficking operates through a series of coordinated steps:
This shop primarily deals in synthetic drugs like mephedrone, A-PVP, and ecstasy. 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.
- Marketplace Creation: Vendors establish online stores on darknet platforms.
- Product Listings: Drugs are listed with descriptions, prices, and vendor ratings.
- Transaction Process: Buyers pay using cryptocurrencies, which protects their identity.
- Shipping: After receiving payment, vendors ship products discreetly to buyers.
The Impact of Darknet Drug Trafficking
The implications of darknet drug trafficking extend beyond individual users:
- Increased access to a wider range of illicit substances.
- Challenges for law enforcement agencies trying to regulate and combat drug trade.
- Health risks associated with unregulated drug products.
- Economic impact on communities affected by drug abuse.
Law Enforcement Responses
Law enforcement agencies worldwide are adapting their strategies to tackle darknet drug trafficking. Key strategies include:
- Cyber surveillance to monitor suspicious activities.
- Collaboration with international agencies to share intelligence.
- Conducting operations to seize servers and shut down illicit marketplaces.
FAQs About Darknet Drug Trafficking
What types of drugs are commonly sold on the darknet?
The darknet hosts a wide variety of substances including, but not limited to:
- Stimulants (e.g., cocaine, MDMA)
- Depressants (e.g., heroin)
- Psychedelics (e.g., LSD, psilocybin mushrooms)
- Prescription medications
How do buyers and sellers maintain anonymity on the darknet?
Both buyers and sellers utilize techniques such as:
- Accessing the darknet via anonymizing networks like Tor.
- Using cryptocurrencies for financial transactions.
- Employing secure communication channels to prevent tracking.
What are the legal consequences of engaging in darknet drug trafficking?
Involvement in darknet drug trafficking can lead to severe legal consequences, including:
- Criminal charges with severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment.
- Seizure of assets related to drug trafficking activities.
- Long-term criminal records that can affect future opportunities.
Conclusion
As technology continues to evolve, so does the landscape of darknet drug trafficking, posing complex challenges for society, law enforcement, and public health systems.
Understanding this phenomenon is crucial for developing effective interventions and policies to combat drug-related issues stemming from the darknet.
