Vroeger werd er bij mij in de buurt gewoon gedeald van uit huizen en op de hoeken van de straat, maar in 2016 gaan veel mensen nu via TOR naar de Darknet (ook Darkweb en Deepweb genoemd) om daar hun drugs in grote hoeveelheid te kopen. Aangezien dit met grote voorzichtigheid in volledige anonimiteit kan gebeuren, verdienen er grote groepen dealers daar nu bakken met geld, sterker het gaat om miljoenen per maand. Uiteraard zijn we volgens dit rapport als Nederland hier een grote spil in door grote ervaring in de drugshandel en een goede ICT infrastructuur.
Today, there are around 50 so-called cryptomarkets and vendor shops where anonymous sellers and buyers find each other to trade illegal drugs, new psychoactive substances, prescription drugs and other goods and services. But it is not just the obscure parts of the Internet where drugs are on offer. There are numerous web shops, easily found by search engines, which offer new psychoactive substances, often labelled as ‘research chemicals’.
The Netherlands occupies a crucial position in European illicit drug markets. Data from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction suggested it is the main producer of MDMA, ecstasy and herbal cannabis and a key distribution hub for cannabis resin and cocaine. Whether the pivotal role of the Netherlands also extends online, has yet been unclear.
The Netherlands Ministry of Security and Justice commissioned RAND Europe to provide a firmer evidence base to this phenomenon and, in particular, the role of the Netherlands. This report analyses the size and scope of Internet-facilitated drugs trade both on the so-called clear and hidden web, paying special attention to the Netherlands, and delineates potential avenues for law enforcement for detection and intervention.
