How The Internet Is Used To Buy Drugs Online
Understanding the Cost of Drugs on the Dark Web
On-chain data reveals that one of them – named “One Stop Shop Pharmacy Online” – procured fentanyl from the dealer Alex Peijnenburg, who has been sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). In 2017, President Trump declared a nationwide public health emergency over overdose deaths from opioids, painkillers, and illicit drugs such as heroin and fentanyl. FDA chief Scott Gottlieb in April called for Google, Facebook, and other tech companies to crack down on online pharmacies selling painkillers such as oxycodone and fentanyl, now the leading cause of drug overdose deaths. As such, most of the attention is placed on online marketplaces for drugs, exchanges for stolen data, and other illegal activities when people think of the dark web.
The drug is commonly prescribed to people with cancer and chronic pain, and it’s legally sold in Australia in slow-release patches that cost a few dollars each. Vince O’Brien, one of the agency’s leads on drugs, said it appears to have been fueled by fears that selling a drug linked to fatalities would more likely garner police attention. To get an estimate of how much was passing through the site, Jones scraped information on the 2,194 known Evolution dealers (546 were disabled or suspended), all product listings and 90 per cent of customer feedback. From all this, Jones determined there were approximately 475,000 transactions over the last year, many of which would have included multiple items (it’s not possible to tell where this happened). Looking at the feedback, he determined a mean value of transactions at $90. To get a year’s revenue figure, Jones pushed his sum for the cost of an average transaction up to $110 to account for multiple items and postal costs.
Aldridge et al. (2018) argue that online illegal markets may reduce the harm of drug use because they raise the quality and safety of the drugs sold and because, in the course of the transaction, there is less conflict and violence. With the recent trends in legalisation and with the transition of illegal drug markets to the internet, much more detailed information about the price and quality of cannabis is now available, making an analysis of the determinants of prices easier. This column analyses data collected over a two-week period in 2015 from a dark web marketplace, which details about 500 cannabis prices from around 140 sellers in 18 countries. It concludes that the internet-based cannabis market is characterised by monopolistic competition, where many sellers offer differentiated products with quality variation causing dispersion of cannabis prices. The darknet, also called the dark web, is a portion of the internet that hosts darknet markets, or hidden commercial websites.
The dark web serves as a hidden part of the internet where illegal activities often take place, including the buying and selling of drugs. Understanding how much are drugs on the dark web requires a comprehensive look at various factors that influence pricing.
Like all of the investigators, Alford was determined to find the person behind Dread Pirate Roberts – so he used Google’s advanced search option for the earliest mentions of Silk Road. By now Homeland Security agent Jared Der-Yeghiayan had made 3,600 drug seizures. But his biggest “get” came in the spring of 2013, when he located one of Dread Pirate Roberts’ deputies who created the screen name “Cirrus.”
It is also unclear how police determined whether mail to be searched was identified through routine postal surveillance or targeted interceptions derived from dark web activities. This issue requires more research given the comparative rigour of the warrant requirements for opening and reading mail under the US constitution (Desai, 2007), particularly as Australia has no individually enforceable Charter or Bill of Rights. Dark web commerce sites have the same features as any e-retail operation, including ratings/reviews, shopping carts and forums, but there are important differences. When both buyers and sellers are anonymous, the credibility of any ratings system is dubious. Ratings are easily manipulated, and even sellers with long track records have been known to suddenly disappear with their customers’ crypto-coins, only to set up shop later under a different alias.
Such processes, and their underlying rationales, consider all dark web activity as evil due to its hidden nature. However, our analysis suggests high-end forms of dark web surveillance appear to have minimal impact on routine Australian drug policing. Indeed, the major source of dark web harm appears to be economic rather than physical or moral.
Factors Influencing Drug Prices on the Dark Web
Don’t, however, expect to be able to take advantage of any of those low prices. Kozuch noted that most vendors within China do not do business with international punters, and even fewer will so much as respond to anyone who does not communicate in Chinese. In addition to being widespread in number, nefarious goods and services on the Chinese web can also be had at bargain prices. The IntSights team, we’re told, found that everything from narcotics to distributed denial-of-service operators and exploits were offered at far lower prices compared similar fare touted in Western cyber-souks.
- Our Research and Investigations Team also focuses on identifying new ways vendors use to disguise the trade of such illicit goods.
- This result suggests that the policing effort induced a negative shock to the dark web ecosystem in which a significant proportion of drug sellers decided to exit altogether.”
- If you want to learn all about privacy protection or cryptocurrency, the dark web has plenty to offer.
- The group distributed the pills around the country using the Pharma-Master dark web site that Shamo created.
- A declaration by a court that a person is a drug trafficker can have serious lifelong consequences as well as allowing the state to seize and sell the individual’s property as proceeds of crime.
- These activities attracted the FBI’s attention and it shut down Silk Road and suppressed a later attempt to revive the illegal marketplace.
The prices of drugs sold on the dark web can vary significantly based on several determinants:
- Type of Drug: Different substances have different market values. For example, heroin and cocaine may demand higher prices due to their potency and popularity.
- Purity: Higher purity levels typically increase prices. Users often pay a premium for more potent products.
- Quantity: Buying in bulk can lead to discounts. Smaller quantities may have a higher per-unit price.
- Geographic Location: Prices can vary based on the seller’s location and the ease of shipping to specific areas.
- Seller Reputation: Vendors with high ratings and positive reviews often charge more for their products.
- Market Demand: Fluctuations in demand can affect prices, much like any other market.
Average Prices of Common Drugs on the Dark Web
While prices can fluctuate, here are some estimated average costs of various drugs found on the dark web:
- Marijuana: $200 – $400 per ounce
- Cocaine: $60 – $120 per gram
- Heroin: $90 – $200 per gram
- Ecstasy: $10 – $30 per pill
- LSD: $5 – $15 per dose
- Prescription opioids: $5 – $30 per pill
Risks of Buying Drugs on the Dark Web
While the dark web may seem like an anonymous marketplace, purchasing drugs online carries significant risks:
- Legal Consequences: Purchasing illegal drugs can lead to severe legal penalties.
- Quality Assurance: There is no guarantee of product quality or purity, increasing the risk of overdose.
- Scams: Buyers may encounter fraudulent sellers or lose money without receiving any product.
- Privacy Risks: Despite the use of encryption technologies, buyers may still be tracked and identified.
FAQs About Dark Web Drug Pricing
What payment methods are commonly accepted?
Most transactions on the dark web are conducted using cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, to provide a layer of anonymity.
Is it safe to buy drugs from the dark web?
No, buying drugs on the dark web is illegal and involves numerous risks, including tarnished safety and legal issues.
Can I negotiate prices for drugs on the dark web?
Some vendors may allow negotiation, but this practice is not common and depends largely on the seller’s willingness.
Conclusion
Understanding how much are drugs on the dark web demands a careful consideration of various factors, from drug type to seller reputation. However, the inherent risks involved make it a dangerous choice for consumers.
