McDonald pleaded guilty to charges of conspiring to distribute at least 400 grams of a substance containing detectable amounts of fentanyl and cocaine alongside the possession of firearms in a drug-trafficking operation. At a minimum, he faces 10 years in prison for selling drugs and five years, to be served consecutively, for owning firearms to sell drugs. The researchers focused on the five most common drugs sent in for testing—MDMA, cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine and LSD—to ensure that there would be enough data points to produce reliable results in each case.
- These anonymous marketplaces—operating mainly on the Tor network—are now a primary threat vector for businesses and cybersecurity professionals.
- He also pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis and Ketamine for sale or supply at the same address on the same date.
- My first venture into the dark web begins, as all internet searches do, on Google.
- It supports operations in multiple languages and operates on both clearnet and Tor.
- It’s software that anyone can download for free and allows users to access the Dark Web.
Is Accessing The Dark Web Illegal?
It features over 40,000 listings including narcotics, counterfeit items, hacking tools, and stolen data. The marketplace is well-known for its bug bounty programs and robust security mechanisms, including mandatory 2FA. The student told gardaí he intended to smoke or bake the more than €4,000-worth of cannabis and admitted to ordering drugs online on three previous occasions. Det Supt Shields said the PSNI monitor social platforms for illegal activity and have a number of specially-trained detectives in this area. “When you purchase such drugs online it’s extremely dangerous because a doctor will have looked at your medical history and when you don’t have that, you’re running the risk of causing your body harm and in some cases it can be fatal.” The dark web hosts a wide range of sites — from whistleblower tools and secure email platforms to underground forums, black markets, and dark web mirrors of legitimate news outlets.
Cyber Press
Last week, one of the dark web’s most prominent drug marketplaces—Archetyp—was shut down in an international, multi-agency law enforcement operation following years of investigations. It was touted as a major policing win and was accompanied by a slick cyberpunk-themed video. Whether because of fentanyl adulteration or the present pandemic, buying drugs from the “dark web”—a term for sites in the unsearchable “deep web” part of the internet that require specific software to access—has never looked so appealing.
The Invisible Majority: People Whose Drug Use Is Not Problematic
Mark Kennedy, head of residential and counselling services at the Merchant’s Quay project, says “steroid users would now account for around 350 individuals accessing our services”. Freshtools is a unique marketplace in that it does not only provide the stolen data, but it allows criminals to purchase MaaS which can cause further damage to the victims. It is one of the most active and up to date markets and always provides new and updated malware and data. Due to its extensive inventory and reputation for reliability, Brian’s Club has maintained a significant presence on the dark web.
The Silk Road on the dark web is often described as one of the most infamous online black markets in history. It operated on the hidden corners of the internet, outside of traditional search engines, and accessible only through encrypted software like Tor. While not an onion site, Tor Metrics can provide a fascinating peek “under the hood” of the dark web. It tracks Tor user activity by region, showing trends in access and adoption without collecting personal data. These insights help researchers and privacy advocates understand where Tor is most relied upon, often highlighting global patterns in censorship, surveillance, and the demand for online anonymity.
Dark web markets have exploded in scale and reach in 2025, becoming the most dangerous hubs for trading drugs, stolen data, and hacking tools. These anonymous marketplaces—operating mainly on the Tor network—are now a primary threat vector for businesses and cybersecurity professionals. The Hidden Wiki is a longstanding directory of dark web sites that offers a way to browse onion services. It’s been around for many years and helps users navigate the dark web by curating links to various resources. Note that Hidden Wiki links sometimes lead to unsafe content, so be wary about what you click.
Download Drugs And The Darknet
Singh then personally shipped or arranged the shipment of the drugs from Europe to the United States through U.S. mail or other shipping services. Social media companies are under growing pressure to eradicate drug dealing on their platforms, says Ashly Fuller, a PhD candidate at University College London researching the sale and advertisement of illegal drugs to young people on social media. Data released by social media companies shows that millions of pieces of drug-related content are already taken down every year. (Facebook and Instagram took action against 9.3 million pieces of drug-related content last year, while Snapchat says it did so in 241,227 cases in the second half of 2023.) But these companies’ actions are sometimes indiscriminate. The accounts of organizations promoting drug harm reduction and social media personalities who post content about drugs and psychedelics, but who do not sell them, are being caught in the crossfire of efforts to get a grip on the issue.
If you’ve ever experienced an uptick in phishing attacks and spam after a data leak or breach, it may be because your personal information has been posted to the dark web. Onion sites, or dark web websites, are sites on the dark web that can typically only be accessed using special software like the Tor browser. These sites use “.onion” domains, which are made up of random letters and numbers up to 56 characters long.
Many Teenagers Now Using Dark Web To Buy Drugs – Detective
Axis Intelligence provides dark web surveillance solutions that help businesses identify leaked credentials, fraud attempts, and malware risks before they escalate. A Canadian market established in 2021, WTN offers over 9,000 products, including narcotics, fake goods, and digital services. It operates in both French and English and has built a reputation for ease-of-use. Known for its publicity stunt releasing millions of stolen card details for free, BidenCash specializes in credit card fraud and identity theft. This article reveals the top 10 dark web markets dominating in 2025, their unique characteristics, and the critical implications for enterprise cybersecurity.
‘Hash Court’ And High Drama: How Weed Became The US Open’s New Distraction
According to the PSNI, there are about 100 organised crime gangs in Northern Ireland, with around a quarter believed to have connections to paramilitary groups. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) reported a 15% increase in drug-related arrests during the last year. The Dark Web – which was originally used by the United States Department of Defence to communicate anonymously – has now become a hub for users wishing to remain anonymous around the world. Reboot SEO Company used the online analytics tools Ahrefs to discover the amount of searches for each country across the US, UK and Europe to determine the interest in The Dark Web. Prosecutors said he is one of eight defendants who have been convicted as part of the drug trafficking organization.
Time Up Adam Idah Misses Celtic Training Amid Expected Transfer As Brendan Rodgers Makes His Point
Interestingly, buying in this manner also led him to develop a lasting passion for computer science and privacy. Terence decided to begin buying online because—as a mid-career professional and father from Minnesota, now in his late 30s—he no longer has the connections that he did when he was formerly addicted to heroin. He wanted to be able to buy high-quality psychedelics from a trusted, reliable source and the dark web seemed like the best place to do so. A 14-year-old boy accused of trying to buy a Russian sub-machine gun and 100 rounds of ammunition on the ‘dark web’ left school at break time for a meet-up in a Co Derry retail park, a court has heard. Two Co Antrim men have pleaded guilty to involvement in a plot to buy guns over the ‘dark web’, unaware they were dealing with undercover police.
Indian Man Jailed In US For Selling Drugs, Controlled Substance On Dark Web
At a previous sentencing hearing, Judge Melanie Greally indicated she was “not completely opposed” to imposing section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. This section allows the court to impose a fine and defer the passing of a sentence of imprisonment for the offence. The listings are organised by category, and you can refine your search by filters including auction or fixed-priced listings. The first thing I see is a listing for fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 100 times more powerful than morphine and responsible for the death of Prince.
Over 2,000 Pounds Of Meth, Cocaine And Fentanyl Found Inside Compton Home, Feds Say
Banmeet Singh, a 40-year-old from India has been sentenced to five years in a US prison for running a dark web drug empire. The senior official said she was “very conscious” of the impact delays in cases coming to court were having on victims, as well as those accused of crimes.
