According to Table 11, the number of publications related to SDG 16 has increased by over 300% in the last decade, with a particularly steep increase in the last few years. For SDG 3, the number of publications increased only after 2015, when SDGs were formally adopted. The total number of publications for the ten years is 59, and the overall growth rate is 633%. We used VOSviewer 46,47 to create a visualization of the keyword co-occurrence network. Our unit of analysis was “index keywords.” We extracted a total of 5155 index keywords from the dataset, and 55 keywords met the inclusion criterion when the minimum number of keyword occurrences was set to 15. We also carefully used the VOSviewer thesaurus feature to merge synonyms of certain keywords into a single term.
Weapons For Sale
In a systematic literature review of 65 relevant articles from leading databases 20, the authors analyzed crimes, consequences, and methods to provide direction for cybersecurity researchers and specialists in identifying and addressing emerging crime threats on the Darkweb. The study found that further research is needed to identify criminals and crypto markets. Darkweb forums are crucial for forensic investigations, as anonymity can also be used to identify criminals.
Slightly Cooler Temperatures For Southern California, With Thunderstorms Possible In Some Areas
One particularly revealing moment came in February 2024, when Incognito users reported that BTC withdrawals were disabled—likely part of a deliberate “exit scam.” Lin, or others acting on his behalf, threatened to leak vendor identities to law enforcement unless paid. That extortion threat, combined with increased tracing and investigative pressure, led many users to flee the platform, dramatically reducing deposits and facilitating law enforcement’s final takedown. INCB is concerned about the lack of audits and inspections in certain free trade zones which are susceptible to misuse for illicit activities.
Darkweb Markets Compete For Drug Trafficking And Illegal Pharmacy Monopoly
This cooperative model could serve as a blueprint for future operations targeting other illicit darknet platforms. Archetyp Market emerged in 2020 as a major player in the darknet’s illicit drug trade, quickly gaining notoriety for its vast inventory and user base. Over five years, it became a bustling hub where over 3,200 vendors sold more than 17,000 drug listings, spanning cocaine, heroin, cannabis, MDMA, amphetamines, and highly dangerous synthetic opioids like fentanyl. With a staggering 612,000 users, the platform processed over €250 million (approximately \$289 million) in transactions, primarily in the privacy-focused Monero cryptocurrency. Srinivasan operated the account “redlightlabs” on multiple darknet marketplaces, including the site “Dark0de.” Srinivasan and Ta used the redlightlabs account to advertise and sell counterfeit M30 oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and other illicit drugs.
The psychological impacts on individuals who use the Darkweb for illegal activities, such as anxiety and stress, should also be considered. Incorporating human behavior and psychology elements into Darkweb research can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon and inform more effective solutions. Researching the Darkweb can raise ethical considerations, particularly if it involves studying illegal activities or vulnerable populations. Researchers should carefully consider the potential implications of their research and take steps to minimize any potential harm or negative consequences. The top keywords in this cluster, themed Network Security, Malware, and Cyber-attacks, are shown in Table 6. This cluster exemplifies the usefulness of probing Darknets in their ability to serve as network telescope and cyber intelligence tools while offering benefits to studying large-scale attacks’ evolution.
ICE, Europol, Law Enforcement Partners, Dismantle Major Illicit Drug Networks In Global Darknet Crackdown
The interagency efforts are aimed to both identify those who use anonymizing technologies to purchase illicit narcotics and direct them to available resources. “With this takedown, law enforcement has taken out one of the dark web’s longest-running drug markets, cutting off a major supply line for some of the world’s most dangerous substances.” Jean-Philippe Lecouffe, deputy executive director of operations at Europol, stated, per Reuters. The ubiquity of the internet has transformed black markets, with shadowy street transactions now taking place in sophisticated digital marketplaces. According to Europol’s 2025 Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment report, nearly all forms of serious and organized crime now have a digital footprint. Criminals are leveraging the online domain to increase efficiency and maintain anonymity, and darknet markets are generating US$5–7.5 million in daily revenue. LOS ANGELES – Three Glendale men and one San Fernando Valley man have been arrested on federal charges of conspiring to distribute various drugs including cocaine, methamphetamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and ketamine on darknet marketplaces, the Justice Department announced today.
Drugs On The Front Line: The War In Ukraine Is Fuelling Drug Use Among Soldiers, Particularly Of Synthetic Substances
According to this study, SDG 16 has the highest number of publications and citations related to the Darkweb, followed by SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being). There are strong linkages between peace and inequalities (SDG 16 and 10) and peace and good health (SDG 16 and 3), highlighting the centrality of SDG 16. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in collaboration with Europol, the Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement Team, and various national and international partners, announced the results of Operation RapTOR May 22.
- Other studies have explored the ethical implications of using cryptocurrencies for illegal purposes and the potential for regulation to address this issue 77.
- Anderson and his accomplices packaged drugs in stuffed animals for shipment to their darknet customers.
- The Washington-based Wilson Center has warned over the presence of thousands of extremist groups’ websites on the darknet, including neo-Nazis, and white supremacists.
- This January, the FBI was part of another international operation that took down the cybercrime marketplaces known as “Cracked” and “Nulled”.
- Two novel technologies, i.e., the Tor network (or Onion routers) and cryptocurrency bitcoin, complemented the anonymity requirements of users and financial exchange without traceability.
For example, the Monero cryptocurrency, which uses a privacy-focused blockchain, has been popular on the Darkweb due to its greater anonymity than other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin 70. A blockchain explorer is a tool that allows users to view and analyze the transactions that have taken place on a particular blockchain 71. It can track funds’ movement and identify patterns or anomalies indicating illicit activity. Using private blockchains in agriculture is an interesting application of the technology 72. A private blockchain can create a secure and transparent record of transactions within a closed network, such as a network of farms or agricultural supply chain partners. Understanding the psychological motivations behind individuals’ engagement in illegal activities on the Darkweb is crucial in developing effective countermeasures and promoting pro-social behavior online.
A Synthetic Age: The Evolution Of Methamphetamine Markets In Eastern And Southern Africa
Anderson and his co-conspirators used darknet marketplaces to sell the drugs, prosecutors allege, shipping the stuffed animals from U.S. post offices. The darknet is a part of the internet that can be accessed only through special software. To deal with the growing issue of drug trafficking through digital means, the Centre has established a Special Task Force on Darknet and cryptocurrency. This task force will specifically monitor suspicious transactions involving drugs conducted on the darknet. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), India’s primary agency for drug law enforcement, is at the forefront of this initiative.
Drug Trafficking And Weapons – Connections To Organized Crime And The Darknet
The connection between the Darkweb and the SDG is indirect, as the Darkweb is primarily used for illegal activities such as cybercrime, the sale of illegal goods, and the spread of misinformation. These activities can negatively impact the achievement of many of the SDGs, such as SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). The sale of illegal goods on the Darkweb can fuel organized crime, contributing to poverty and food insecurity and undermining public health and safety.
Products And Services
Violence has become endemic in the system, with enforcers, known as “sportsmen,” meting out harsh punishments for couriers suspected of theft or negligence. This pervasive violence, combined with the easy availability of highly addictive synthetic drugs, is fueling a public health crisis and contributing to rising incarceration rates among young Russians. Ta pleaded guilty in August 2023 to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and is serving a prison sentence of 260 months (21 years and eight months). Srinivasan pleaded guilty in June 2023 to the same charge and to one count of distributing fentanyl resulting in death and is serving a prison sentence of 235 months (19 years and seven months). While there is a long history of connections between drugs and weapons, DarkOwl analysts were curious if a similar relationship could be observed between weapons and human trafficking, and drugs and human trafficking. By performing a keyword and language correlation analysis across drugs, weapons, and human trafficking related advertisements in DarkOwl Vision, our analysts discovered at least 7 unique vendors who are involved in human trafficking are also involved in drug trafficking activities.
Which Darknet Markets Accept Zcash
The Darkweb is a platform for illegal activities such as drug trafficking driven by human behavior, including motivations for seeking illicit substances and financial gain. Psychological factors, such as impulsiveness, lack of self-control, and the need for immediate gratification, can contribute to an individual’s involvement in these illegal activities. The anonymous and encrypted nature of the Darkweb allows drug traffickers to operate without fear of detection by law enforcement. Operation RapTOR includes law enforcement actions taken by JCODE member agencies, to include ICE HSI; the DEA; FBI; FDA-OCI; IRS-CI; and USPIS; in addition to foreign partners listed below. Credible reporting from the referenced agencies, in addition to contributions from ATF; Army CID; CBP; Department of Treasury’s FinCEN and Office of Foreign Assets Control; and NCIS enabled domestic law enforcement actions in support of Operation RapTOR.
Most darknet services offer worldwide shipping with some exceptions to Russia due to their strict import controls. Using the darknet, deep web, and high-risk surface web data, DarkOwl analysts discovered multiple arms-centric marketplaces, vendor shops, and other classified-style advertisements for the sale of illegal firearms on the darknet. On Oct. 11, 2023, law enforcement executed arrest warrants at the couple’s Las Vegas home and arrested them both. Officers recovered multiple pills in prescription bottles, packaging materials, gloves, black Ziploc bags and empty prescription pill bottles with the names of the defendants and other uncharged coconspirators. They used darknet markets, including Monopoly, Versus, ASAP, AlphaBay, Wall Street, Archetyp, Bohemia, Empire, Dream and White House. According to court documents, for six years, the married couple operated an online storefront called “MrsFeelGood” to illegally distribute a variety of narcotics across the United States.
