Dismantling of DarkMarket in January 2021, “DisruptTor” operation in September 2020, closure of Wall Street Market and Valhalla in May 2019 … In recent years, law enforcement has successfully taken action against Darknet marketplaces.
But in the war on drugs, another front may be emerging, notably under the effect of the Covid-19 crisis. Traffickers are increasingly using mobile apps and social media to promote their wares and reach out to their customers. This phenomenon began before the onset of the pandemic, which certainly accentuated the movement.
“Restrictions on the movement of citizens, including lockdowns in many countries, have changed the way certain drug-related activities take place. (…) This includes the use of home deliveries; less use of cash as a method of payment; fewer face-to-face transactions; and more individual drug trafficking online – on the Darknet, on social networks or using encrypted communication applications ”, notes Europol in a report dated May 2020.
Forced to stay at home, consumers are very logically turning to digital channels. But the Darknet may not necessarily be the first place they visit anymore. It is necessary to master the payment in bitcoins or monos there, and to hope that the postal sending will not be intercepted by the police force.
In addition, the anonymity so emphasized is in fact quite relative … if you have to give your postal address to receive packages. Especially since these addresses can, one day or another, fall into the hands of the police after a dismantling.
Simpler and more immediate than the Darknet
Social networks and mobile applications, on the other hand, are much easier to access. In any case, this is what Anika, who works in a German association for information and assistance to drug users (Chill Out Potsdam eV), notes.
She recently analyzed these new modes of trafficking on the occasion of the Chaos Computer Club rc3 conference.
“The use of courier is, in a way, an evolution of the drug taxis that appeared in Berlin about ten years ago. The traffickers handed out business cards offering to deliver ‘fruits and vegetables’ anywhere at any time. Obviously, it was not about fruits and vegetables ”, explains Anika.
Now the business card has been replaced with ads shown on Telegram, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. The advantage of these digital channels is that they create a much stronger bond with consumers. Traffickers can display their merchandise in high definition photos or videos, launch promotional campaigns, give information and advice, tell their stories, etc.
All of these generalities can be found in threads and public groups. You just have to search a bit with the right keyword. Telegram is particularly useful from this point of view, because this messaging allows to create large groups and offers a nearby discovery function. Which is very useful if you want to do home delivery. But the actual deal does not take place in these public spaces. For this, the interested consumer must contact the supplier directly through an encrypted messaging, generally Telegram, WhatsApp or Signal. Snapchat is also used.
A method also adopted in France
“The contact is very quick, almost immediate. And delivery too. It takes between 15 and 30 minutes, at any time of the day or night. It’s obviously very tempting ”, explains Anika.
Delivery is often done by car to a meeting point fixed in advance and the sale is done in cash.
“The big drawback is that the consumer has to get into the car. He then finds himself in the company of criminals, which is not pleasant, even dangerous. And especially for consumers ”, points out Anika.
Obviously highly developed in Berlin and Germany, the sale of drugs by courier is also a French phenomenon, as we have seen by carrying out some research on social networks and around us.
“This existed before the pandemic, tells us Jean-Marc, a Parisian .
01net.com – Examples found in French speaking networks
It is obviously difficult to know the extent of this phenomenon, but certain indications suggest that this practice is becoming quite common and that, at times, people even jostle at the gate. “Once I get out and get in the car, continues Jean-Marc.
The guy wanted to give me some coke, even though I ordered some weed. In fact, it was a misunderstanding. He was coming to deliver someone else from the same building. My delivery man came five minutes later. “
Towards cohabitation of digital channels
According to Europol, this commercial technique has also been observed in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, the Netherlands and Spain. The innovation brought by couriers therefore seems to spread oil in Europe and relegate the Darknet marketplaces to the closet.
But these will not disappear by as much, because they keep certain advantages that the couriers do not have. According to Anika, the quality of the drug is generally better there, as there are fewer intermediaries and therefore fewer cuts. The prices would also be more interesting. Darknet and messaging will therefore very likely continue to coexist, because they do not meet the same needs.
It remains to be seen how the police will do to stem this new trend of which they are aware, but which does not seem to be a priority for the moment. Probably because the sales volumes are still quite low compared to traditional sales channels. But that is likely to change in the coming years.“It is clearly possible that the sale of drugs online will increase and that darknet markets, social media and secure communication channels will gain importance”
, Europol believes.
-First name changed
