Publications - Released in 2016
Searching on the internet today can be compared to dragging a net across the surface of the ocean. While a great deal may be caught in the net, there is still a wealth of information that is deep and, therefore, missed. Similarly, drug markets can make use of the various levels of the web in order to operate. There is the surface web, often used for illicit medicines and new psychoactive substances, and also the deep web, with its dark net markets or cryptomarkets, supported by innovative technologies to protect privacy. Furthermore, the proliferation of social media and development of web technologies that allow greater user interaction have the potential to influence customer and user involvement in drug markets.
This report is destined for both readers with a previous specialised knowledge and those trying to gain insight into a new and rapidly evolving topic. Along with information on what the deep web is, how it operates, the role of ‘The Onion Router’ in the anonymous sale and purchase of illegal drugs, the role of encryption and cryptocurrencies, the content raises certain questions. For example, how will illicit drugs be marketed and trafficked in the future? Are the current tools and responses fit for purpose? How can the EMCDDA address the challenges of monitoring such a dynamic and fast-changing environment?