HSI Seizes Biggest Anonymous Drug Black Market Website And Assists In Arrest Of Operator And Overseas Co-conspirators
Not all online pharmacies operate in the black market; the Food and Drug Administration says Americans should only order from sites that are licensed and located in the U.S. Otherwise, there may not be proper oversight or quality control on these medications. And if these drugs wind up making customers sicker in the long run, it’s actually not such a bargain. For the third time this year, the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act, also known as SAFE, hit a wall in Congress after lawmakers excluded it from a $1.7 trillion government funding bill. The measure would have fortified the legal cannabis industry by allowing licensed businesses to access traditional banking services.
Understanding the Drugs Black Market
The rush of chucking a grand’s worth of drugs into post boxes… unreal, man. According to the charging document, the drugs were found during a search of Kincer’s home by the Department of Homeland Security while executing a search warrant in 2018. No information was provided about why Kincer is facing these drug-related charges now. The Justice Department says Kincer planned to distribute the drugs locally and outside of Florida. There’s also a repository of material you can’t find on the surface web, from rare books to political news and whistleblowing sites. Many people the world over have the need for an anonymous channel of communication due to the censorship in place in some countries.
Major cartels saw growth due to a prominent set culture of Mexican society that created the means for drug capital. One of the sites of origin for drug trafficking within Mexico, was the state of Michoacán. Industrialization of rural areas of Mexico facilitated a greater distribution of drugs, expanding the drug market into different provinces.[79] Once towns became industrialized, cartels such as the Sinaloa Cartel started to form and expand. The proliferation of drug cartel culture largely stemmed from the ranchero culture seen in Michoacán.
For instance, in 2010, OxyContin released a new and harder to crush format, making it more difficult to obtain and abuse the resulting powder. OxyContin’s street price skyrocketed, and by 2012, only 12.8 percent of Americans were choosing to abuse OxyContin, down from 35.6 percent.[39] Prescription opioids began to fall out of favor and Oxy abusers instead turned to the old standby, heroin. The legal marijuana industry in America increased 74 percent in 2014, up to $2.7 billion.[24] The shift to a more local market has caused the Mexican cartels to change gears and move toward other drugs in an attempt to continue to profit from the drug trade. Heroin and meth seem to be the answer as seizures of both of these drugs at the US/Mexico border increased as marijuana seizures declined.
- They also estimated a 4 percent annualized risk of a homicide death for the gang.
- Many conservatives, though, say the legalization push is itself the problem.
- But it’s also being used “off-label” to help people lose weight, with celebrities like Elon Musk saying the injectable has helped them shed pounds.
- Patterns recommended to avoid include hiring hitmen like Dread Pirate Roberts, and sharing handles for software questions on sites like Stack Exchange.
- Insulin prices vary based on manufacturer and type, so prices can be hundreds of dollars per vial for patients who pay cash.
She reports on health, science and the environment and is a graduate of the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at City University of New York. Van den Bergh said Facebook groups are a big way people trade, but she prefers to post on Instagram and Twitter, using cryptic messaging and specific hashtags that people in the community know to look for. Annalisa van den Bergh, 31, who is from New York City, first found her way into the diabetes community in her early 20s, through the same MeetUp group as Douds. She has always been insured, and she said the times she has used the trading community weren’t because of the cost of supplies but because her insurance wouldn’t cover replacements if her equipment was damaged or not working properly. When he got back to the U.S., Douds started work as a full-time freelance videographer in Denver.
“These newer so-called ‘legal’ highs, we really don’t know anything about them. They have never been tested. People are playing a game of Russian roulette with these things,” Nichols tells WebMD. “These are proliferating now. A lot of them came from my lab. We may have done one or two rat studies, but we know nothing about what these compounds do in humans.” She said the real issue is that, “drug pricing continues to skyrocket, with no clear explanation on how those prices are set.” As insurers have shifted costs to patients, more are paying these full, undiscounted prices at the checkout when they go to pick up their medicine. Just last week, the Humalog that Leyendecker was taking, along with other diabetic medicines made by Eli Lilly, saw list prices go up nearly 8 percent. “Robust negotiations between biopharmaceutical companies and insurers result in significant rebates and discounts,” said Holly Campbell, a spokeswoman for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the leading drug industry trade organization.
Some desperate cat owners have turned to the black market to buy the unapproved drugs. The dark web is facilitated by a global network of computer users who believe the internet should operate beyond the supervision of law enforcement agencies. This week, police arrested a man suspected of selling the drug illegally online after raiding a house in the north of England. In the U.K., semaglutides like Ozempic are only legally available with a prescription. But regulators told the BBC’s Newsbeat service that a “small scale” black market for the medicines is emerging. Savage says the vast majority of customers are ordering erectile dysfunction drugs.
“Take this 2C-E that resulted in the death in Minnesota, for example. That is the third, or fourth, or fifth of a line of compounds coming from ecstasy or MDMA.” “We strongly advise all consumers to consult a physician before taking any medication and, for their own safety, only take medications that have been prescribed for them,” said Donaldson. Drugmakers and insurers are not in favor of patients giving their own prescriptions to other patients.
The drugs black market represents a complex and extensive network where illegal drugs are produced, distributed, and sold outside the regulation of governmental authority.
This underground economy operates on principles of supply and demand, circumventing laws meant to control the use and distribution of these substances.
Key Characteristics of the Drugs Black Market
Several characteristics define the drugs black market, making it a unique and persistent phenomenon:
- Exposure to Violence: The competitive nature of the market often leads to violence among rival gangs and cartels.
- Substandard Products: Products sold in the black market can vary in potency and purity, leading to health risks for consumers.
- Global Reach: The drugs black market transcends borders, with networks operating in multiple countries.
- High Profit Margins: The illegal status of these drugs often results in inflated prices, creating significant profits for traffickers.
Major Players in the Drugs Black Market
The drugs black market features various actors, each playing a role in the trafficking and distribution of illegal substances:
- Producers: Growers and manufacturers of illegal drugs, often operating in remote locations.
- Distributors: Individuals and organizations that transport drugs from production sites to urban centers.
- Retailers: Street-level dealers who sell directly to consumers, often taking significant risks.
- Consumers: Individuals who buy illegal drugs for personal use, contributing to the ongoing cycle.
The Impact of the Drugs Black Market
The drugs black market has far-reaching consequences in various areas, including:
- Public Health: The availability of potent drugs leads to increased addiction rates and associated health issues.
- Crime Rates: Areas heavily influenced by the drugs black market often experience higher rates of crime and violence.
- Economics: Countries engaged in drug trafficking can suffer economically due to corruption and loss of legitimate business.
FAQs About the Drugs Black Market
What are the most commonly trafficked drugs in the drugs black market?
The most trafficked substances often include cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and ecstasy, driven by demand in various markets.
How do law enforcement agencies combat the drugs black market?
Law enforcement agencies employ various strategies, including:
- Surveillance and intelligence gathering
- Interdiction efforts to disrupt supply lines
- Partnerships with international agencies to address cross-border trafficking
Why does the drugs black market continue to thrive?
Several factors contribute to the resilience of the drugs black market, including:
- Persistent demand for drugs
- Poor economic opportunities in certain regions
- Weak law enforcement and corruption
Conclusion
The drugs black market encapsulates a myriad of challenges that societies face today. By understanding its dynamics and implications, stakeholders can work towards effective strategies to mitigate its adverse effects.