Internet y los mercados de drogas
Este estudio multidisciplinario del OEDT sobre el mundo de los mercados de drogas en internet presenta la investigación más reciente en este campo y sugiere nuevas líneas de investigación. Más información, en inglés, está disponible abajo.
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The EMCDDA has been monitoring the drug situation for the last 20 years. In that time, the nature and range of drugs available has changed considerably and, in more recent years, the manner in which people acquire drugs has also undergone a change. There has been a shift from face-to-face purchases to also acquiring drugs through unseen, and often unmonitored, parts of the world wide web. Almost any kind of illegal drug can be purchased online and delivered by mail, without the buyer making direct contact with the drug dealer.
In this first detailed exploration of the subject, we collate the most recent evidence from a range of experts, each with his or her own unique perspective. Our compilation will add to the collective knowledge available on this part of the supply chain and highlight the gaps for future research. It does not claim to be complete or up to the minute. What it is, however, is our inaugural in-depth analysis of a facet of the drugs phenomenon that the agency has not yet explored extensively.
Searching on the internet today can be compared to dragging a net across the surface of the ocean. While a great deal may be caught in the net, there is still a wealth of information that is deep and, therefore, missed. Similarly, drug markets can make use of the various levels of the web in order to operate. There is the surface web, often used for illicit medicines and new psychoactive substances, and also the deep web, with its dark net markets or cryptomarkets, supported by innovative technologies to protect privacy. Furthermore, the proliferation of social media and development of web technologies that allow greater user interaction have the potential to influence customer and user involvement in drug markets.
We are delighted to release this investigation into the world of online drug markets. Although at present, it appears that only a minority of drugs are purchased in this manner, it seems likely that online drug markets could in the near future disrupt drug dealing in the same way that eBay, Amazon and PayPal have revolutionised the retail experience.
This report is destined for both readers with a previous specialised knowledge and those trying to gain insight into a new and rapidly evolving topic. Along with information on what the deep web is, how it operates, the role of ‘The Onion Router’ in the anonymous sale and purchase of illegal drugs, the role of encryption and cryptocurrencies, the content raises certain questions. For example, how will illicit drugs be marketed and trafficked in the future? Are the current tools and responses fit for purpose? How can the EMCDDA address the challenges of monitoring such a dynamic and fast-changing environment?
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