Law Enforcement Shifts Tactics as Dark Web Becomes the New Marketplace for Drug Trafficking

Each year, more drug trafficking is being organized, strategized, and directed online. The shady street corner deals people generally think of when they imagine a drug deal still occur, but they are only one of many ways in which addicts obtain drugs. Today, a significant proportion of drug dealing occurs online.

A Recent Multinational Drug Bust Reveals the Scope of Online Drug Dealing

In May of 2023, an entire dark web marketplace and all its networks were shut down in a multinational drug bust that saw almost 300 people arrested and a record $53 million in assets seized. Critically, the drug bust involved tracking down criminals who operated almost entirely online.

Authorities in the U.S. and Europe were able to take down a sales platform that operated on the dark web, an area of the internet that is not easily accessible without special software and tools. “Our message to criminals on the dark web is this: You can try to hide in the furthest reaches of the internet, but the Justice Department will find you and hold you accountable for your crimes,” said United States Attorney General Merrick Garland about what he highlighted as the highest number of arrests and money seized in any international Justice Department-led drug trafficking operation yet.

Most arrests connected to the operation (153) took place in the U.S., but other countries also utilized their law enforcement departments to arrest individuals involved in the global drug ring. United Kingdom authorities arrested 55 people, and German officials arrested 52. The European Union law enforcement agency that worked with the U.S. and the U.K. to orchestrate the bust, Europol, released a statement saying it seized 50.8 million euros ($53.4 million) in cash and virtual currencies, plus 850 kilograms of drugs and 117 firearms.

While this drug bust may be the largest of its kind, it is only one of many such busts in a modern-day drug trafficking landscape that increasingly relies on the dark web to connect manufacturers to traffickers, traffickers to dealers, and dealers to buyers.

What Exactly Is the Dark Web?

Even though the dark web is quickly becoming one of the most-used methods for accessing illicit substances, that does not mean one will see advertisements for illegal drugs displayed on web pages during their day-to-day internet use. That’s because there’s an entirely different realm of the internet where nefarious commerce occurs, called the “dark web.”

Most internet users only see the “surface web,” which is the section of the internet where popular search engines index websites, sites that can easily be viewed using traditional web browsers and computers, tablets, mobile phones, and other internet-accessible devices. However, hidden websites require users to employ special programs and browsers like The Onion Router (TOR) to see the hidden websites. While on these sites, users can engage in legal and illegal activities under an anonymous I.P. address.

While not everything that occurs on the dark web is illegal, and simply accessing the dark web is not a crime, the dark web does provide a platform for internet users to engage in illegal activity with a degree of anonymity.

The Importance of Families Protecting Themselves from Online Threats

Families can take several steps to ensure no one in the household is at risk of exposure to the dark web:

1). Installing a Family VPN. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have content filters, which can be set to filter out any websites that might serve as launchpads to the dark web.

2). Utilizing Dark Web Scans. Dark web scans can be installed on any device. They can protect against personal information becoming publicized on the dark web, one of the ways people initially become sucked into the dark web. Simply perform frequent scans and close any accounts or profiles that have become compromised. Such accounts and profiles might be available on stolen data lists hosted on the dark web.

3). Implementing Parental Control Apps to Keep Kids Safe. One family member can implement a parental control app that limits internet usage for all devices used within the household. That can prevent family members (especially children) from being exposed to content hosted on the dark web.

Addiction Treatment Can Help Those Who Become Hooked on Drugs They Order Online

In a world where people may become addicted to drugs they bought online, everyone must pay close attention to their loved ones. Traditional signs of drug use within the family may not be present. For example, a family member might not be disappearing at odd hours of the day and night to “spend time with their new friends,” but that doesn’t mean they aren’t using drugs. They may be on the dark web, ordering drugs and having them arrive in the mail in innocent-looking packages and envelopes.

If you know someone who has become addicted to drugs they bought online, please do everything you can to get them help at a qualified residential drug treatment center. Please don’t wait until it is too late.

Sources Cited:

• A.P. “300 arrested in global crackdown on dark web drug market.” A.P. News, 2023. apnews.com

• SOPA. “Everything You Should Know About the Dark Web.” Tulane University School of Professional Advancement, 2023. sopa.tulane.edu