HANDOUT: Counterfeit Pills Overdose Prevention (Metro Region)
Since 2020, several states across the US have witnessed notable shifts in market dynamics, with NPF available more in counterfeit pill form rather than only in powdered form. As technology continues to advance, the illicit drug trade advances with it. Unlike in years past, the vast majority of wholesale drug transactions involving fentanyl are online. Utilizing “dark web” drug markets, drug dealers are able to purchase large quantities of fentanyl directly from international manufacturers and have it shipped directly to themselves. Agora was the biggest underground drug retail website to emerge after Silk Road (at its peak they owned 82% of that market).
Understanding the Cost of Drugs on the Dark Web
The dark web is a part of the internet that requires specific software to access and is often associated with illegal activities, including the sale of various drugs. One of the most common questions regarding this illicit marketplace is how much do drugs cost on the dark web? Prices can vary significantly based on several factors, including the type of drug, its quality, and the vendor.
Factors Affecting Drug Prices
To avoid blocking from the marketplace, we provided as an input to the scraper a session cookie that we obtained by manually logging into the marketplace and solving a Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart (CAPTCHA). However, some sites, namely, the Empire Market, forced users to log out when the life span of the session cookie was expired. In addition, we set parameters such as sleeping time to limit the speed of crawling.
You can monitor and report suspicious activity to the Federal Trade Commission in underground drug markets by joining the Tor network — it is free. For lawyers, journalists and researchers, the dark web can provide a wealth of metadata about virtually any subject or person, all of which can be searched with a guarantee of freedom and privacy. Lawyers gathering information for evidence in litigation cases can find a host of resources leading to unpublished court cases and documents that could help them win legal battles. On the other hand, criminals can use the dark web for a vast variety of illegal activities, including the marketing of weapons and drugs. Worse still, payments for all items are done through Bitcoins, an online peer-to-peer currency which is mostly untraceable.
Amphetamine use began to decline in the 1970s, due toincreased public awareness of its dangers, as well as FDA scheduling ofthe drug(4). That means the researchers can’t assess what exactly happened after Evolution abruptly shut down in March and stole all its customers’ and dealers’ funds. (Christin speculates that Agora has likely absorbed most of the site’s refugees.) But the researchers also note in their study that it may be too early to fully judge the longterm effects of Operation Onymous’ darknet purge.
The dark web and the deep web are also often erroneously used interchangeably. The deep web is what lies underground and isn’t just the content that is considered dark. The dark web first officially appeared in the early 2000s along with the creation of Freenet, which was developed by Ian Clarke to secure users against government intervention and cyber attacks.
Greenfield said she called her aunt who met her and gave her bus fare to get to detox — a step she had taken before. This time she kept going — from detox, to a housing program that offered medication assisted recovery and ultimately to a job helping others make the same journey. Inside Greenfield’s office there are bins filled with fentanyl test strips, safe injection kits and naloxone, a drug also known by its brand name, Narcan, that’s used to reverse an overdose.
When determining how much do drugs cost on the dark web, it is essential to consider the following factors:
Spending $800 on a kilo of chemicals from China, it said they pressed around 415,000 fentanyl pills. The share of fentanyl border seizures that mention “pill” or “tablet” in the CBP data was nearly half in 2022, up from just 6% in 2017, the Reuters analysis shows. That trend has since accelerated, with pills making up the vast majority of fentanyl border busts since October, a senior CBP intelligence official, James Mandryck, said in a July congressional hearing. Interdiction is typically thought to stop just 5% to 10% of the total quantity of illicit drugs trafficked across the border, U.S. government officials say. In a study about fentanyl sales on the dark web, a gram of non-pharmaceutical fentanyl was priced at an average of $1,470 for listings offering less than 5 grams.
- Type of Drug: Different drugs have varying price ranges, with more common substances generally costing less.
- Quality: Higher-quality drugs tend to be more expensive. Users often pay a premium for purity and potency.
- Vendor Reputation: Established vendors with positive reviews may charge higher prices due to their reliability.
- Location: Prices can also vary by region, reflecting local demand and supply.
- Market Fluctuations: Just like any market, drug prices can change based on availability and legal enforcement.
Average Price Ranges for Common Drugs
Here are some average price ranges for popular drugs bought on the dark web:
- Cannabis: $10 – $300 per ounce
- Cocaine: $60 – $150 per gram
- MDMA (Ecstasy): $20 – $40 per pill
- Heroin: $100 – $200 per gram
- Fentanyl: $0.50 – $15 per dose
- LSD: $5 – $15 per tab
Potential Costs Beyond the Purchase Price
- A stimulant belonging to the chemical family of Cathinones and is closely related to amphetamine drugs.
- Dedicated forums and dark-web news sites keep track of which websites are active, and recommend specific dealers.
- Another concerning trend involves the purchase of Adderall and Xanax by high school and college students from dark web drug markets or through social media referrals.
- There are facilities ready to support you or your loved one on their journey to recovery.
- The main reason for the online price premium, though, appears to be that dark-web drugs are of higher quality.
- The site called the mysteries surrounding the dark web little more than an “exaggerated myth” that encompasses a “small collection of websites.” Indeed, Trend Micro estimates that there are just 100,000 people surfing the dark web.
It’s crucial to understand that the initial cost of drugs on the dark web is not the only financial consideration. Other costs can include:
- Shipping and Handling: Many vendors charge for discreet shipping.
- Bitcoin Fees: Transactions are usually carried out using cryptocurrencies, which can incur additional transaction fees.
- Health Risks: The potential for addiction or health issues can lead to long-term financial costs.
FAQs about Drug Prices on the Dark Web
1. Are drugs cheaper on the dark web compared to street prices?
In some cases, drugs can be cheaper on the dark web due to lower overhead costs. However, prices can vary widely and are influenced by the factors mentioned above.
2. Can I trust vendors on the dark web for quality?
Vendor reputation is crucial. Look for reviews and ratings from other buyers before making a purchase to ensure quality and reliability.
3. What payment methods are typically used?
Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are the most common payment methods, as they offer anonymity and security for both the buyer and seller.
4. Is there a risk of getting scammed?
Yes, there is always a risk of scams on the dark web. It’s important to conduct thorough research and verify vendor credibility before transacting.
5. Are there legal consequences for purchasing drugs on the dark web?
Yes, purchasing drugs on the dark web is illegal in many jurisdictions, and engaging in such activities can lead to serious legal repercussions.
In summary, the question of how much do drugs cost on the dark web is complex and influenced by various factors. While some users may find lower prices, the risks associated with purchasing drugs online remain significant and should not be underestimated.
