Drug markets’ ecosystem
The increasingly sophisticated, user-friendly, and impersonal global network of drug markets make the illegal drug trade a dynamic area that is subject to fast changes, with marketplaces appearing and disappearing on a regular basis. These drug markets host hundreds—or, in some cases, thousands—of individuals who sell drugs, commonly known as vendors. The Dark Web offers significant anonymity for both vendors and buyers, who use digital currencies such as Bitcoin to process transactions.
The first drug transaction on the internet is believed that it took place during the 1970s. According to reports, it involved students who exchanged cannabis at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Stanford University. Since that year, drugs have been sold digitally in both small and large volumes. In the late 1990s, discussion forums and groups, related to the manufacture and use of drugs, have also appeared online. One of the most widely...
