The dark web is a part of the internet that is intentionally hidden and is inaccessible through standard web browsers. It is often associated with illegal activities, including the sale of drugs. So, how much are drugs on the dark web? The answer to this question is not straightforward, as prices can vary widely depending on a number of factors.
We And Our Partners Process Data To Provide:
Factors that Affect Drug Prices on the Dark Web
This is likely not a new trend, and numerous vendors possibly also deal with other drug substances alongside fentanyl. Vendor clusters with Bitcoin payments to fentanyl suppliers have also been identified interacting with dark web marketplaces that have since gone offline, such as Silk Road and Hydra. In the quantitative questionnaire, we applied a trust scale of 21 items developed based on previous research results on legal and illegal online purchase transactions. These empirical studies focused on the trust factors in online purchasing, which consumers considered indispensable for safe online shopping. To facilitate the application, we have created seven categories and classified the trust factors into these categories (see Table ​Table11). When considering the sedative market in other countries, caution needs to be exercised.
What Is Silk Road?
There are several factors that can affect the price of drugs on the dark web. These include:
Agents also seized a Remington shotgun and a Smith & Wesson assault rifle, which Alva admitted that he possessed to further his dark web drug trafficking operation. Our analysis demonstrates the ambiguity and complexity of Australian investigations involving drug transactions via the dark web. These developments mirror the history of drug regulation in many jurisdictions by attempting to dismantle illicit drug markets through formidable criminal penalties and asset confiscation processes (Dorn and South, 1990).
The Difficulty Of Busting Dealers On The Dark Web
- Type of drug: Different types of drugs have different prices. For example, prescription drugs tend to be cheaper than illegal drugs, while rare or hard-to-find drugs can be very expensive.
- Quality of the drug: The quality of a drug can also affect its price. Higher-quality drugs tend to be more expensive, while lower-quality drugs may be cheaper but may also be less effective or even dangerous.
- Location: The location of the seller and the buyer can also affect the price of drugs on the dark web. Drugs may be cheaper in countries where they are easily available, while they may be more expensive in countries where they are harder to obtain.
- Demand: The demand for a particular drug can also affect its price. Drugs that are in high demand may be more expensive, while drugs that are less popular may be cheaper.
Microsoft, Firefox, and Google Chrome, for example, won’t allow you to access this portion of the internet. The dark web is also anonymous in nature, meaning everyone’s identities are hidden throughout. This poses even more danger, as you’ll never know who you’re actually talking to or buying from. According to the website Expressvpn, the Deep Web contains 7,500 terabytes of information, compared to only 19 terabytes of information in the “surface web”.
- In this way, we gathered 5 active underground marketplaces with opioid listings.
- The most used darknet marketplaces have come to resemble their legitimate surface web counterparts.
- So, the upper two layers of the internet might not all be entirely visible, but the content is not inflammatory.
- Australia is so remote that sending drugs there is much more expensive, plus their customs officials are better at securing their border, notes David Décary-Hétu, a cyber-security expert at Montreal University.
Typical Drug Prices on the Dark Web
Manhattan District Attorney’s Office
While it is difficult to give exact prices for drugs on the dark web, as they can vary widely, here are some rough estimates of what different types of drugs might cost:
- Prescription drugs: Prescription drugs such as painkillers, anti-anxiety medications, and sleep aids can be found on the dark web for prices ranging from a few dollars to several hundred dollars per pill, depending on the drug and the quantity.
- Illegal drugs: Illegal drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine can be found on the dark web for prices ranging from a few dollars to several hundred dollars per gram, depending on the drug and the quality.
- Rare or hard-to-find drugs: Rare or hard-to-find drugs such as psychedelics or research chemicals can be found on the dark web for prices ranging from a few dollars to several thousand dollars per gram, depending on the drug and the quantity.
Note that the escrow mechanism is widely deployed in the anonymous online market because it helps to build trust and resolve disputes between sellers and buyers. When the purchase is made, the opioid trader ships the purchased item to the buyer (step 10). Once the item is received, the buyer finalizes the purchase by notifying the anonymous online marketplace to release the funds held in escrow (step 11) [8,9].
It is important to note that these prices are only rough estimates, and the actual price of a drug on the dark web can vary widely. Additionally, it is important to remember that buying drugs on the dark web is illegal and can be dangerous. If you are considering buying drugs on the dark web, it is important to be aware of the risks and to take steps to protect yourself.
