This may explain the rising number of cannabis sales over time but diminishing revenues. In the markets analysed, drug sales appear to originate primarily from the United Kingdom and Germany, however, the Netherlands is frequently cited as a source of some of the drugs on offer. However, you can trace its roots to the development of technologies like the Tor network or Freenet.
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In addition, almost 703 kilograms of such substances on their way to the United Kingdom were seized in 534 separate incidents in the same period, the vast majority originating from the United States (RILO WE, 2023). This study would not have been possible without the support of the Higher School of Economics (HSE) Campus in Saint Petersburg (HSE University). And Grace A. Dow College of Health Professions provided academic and financial support, including publication and travel fees. Another future direction can be cluster analysis, using our research database, whereby people’s incomes, group regions, and correlations are seen inside these clusters.
Illicit And Risky Use-Cases
Examples include the sale of high-quality products with low risk for contamination (including lacing and cutting), vendor-tested products, sharing of trip reports, and online discussion of harm reduction practices. Among the various illicit digital markets, the drug trade is one of the most prominent. In 2024, darknet marketplaces generated over US$1.7 billion in cryptocurrency-enabled drug transactions, marking year-on-year growth of over 20%. This trend corresponds with a systematic increase in the criminal market scores relating to illicit drugs in the latest Global Organized Crime Index. These scores measure the pervasiveness and impact of various illicit economies and activities, and in 2023 all drug market indicators worsened compared to the previous iteration of the Index.

Its commitment to privacy and reliability makes it a trusted choice in the darknet ecosystem. Bohemia and Cannabia had long been recognized as leading platforms for illegal transactions on the dark web. The darknet has been a hot topic in recent years, with many people wondering what it is and how it works.
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With a refined interface, strict quality standards, and support for multiple cryptocurrencies, Crown positions itself as a platform of excellence and trust. Focused on reliability and discretion, Crown has quickly become a favored destination for darknet users seeking sophistication and stability. BlackOps is a high-security darknet marketplace built for operational anonymity and precision. Drawing inspiration from covert operations, BlackOps emphasizes stealth, speed, and strict vendor accountability.
The global score for the heroin trade rose from 3.97 to 4.08, for cocaine from 4.52 to 4.82, for cannabis from 5.10 to 5.34 and for synthetic drugs from 4.62 to 4.95 out of 10. Indeed, between 2021 and 2023, every continent of the world experienced an average increase in drug scores for three out of the four drug markets the Index evaluates. Abacus Market appeared on the scene in 2021 and quickly became one of the heavyweights among English-speaking markets on the dark web. The categories are well organized, ranging from drugs and fraud to digital products, guides, and malware.What really sets it apart is its focus on security and usability.
What Do People Sell Or Exchange On Darknet Markets?

Yes, the official WeTheNorth site is verified and frequently updated to provide users with secure and accurate access to the platform. The market’s sudden downfall, exacerbated by internal corruption and rogue developers, sent shockwaves through the dark web community. Many vendors, frustrated by the site’s instability, began to move their operations to other markets, while users struggled to recover their lost funds. For law enforcement, this period of instability provided the perfect opportunity to strike. The Dutch police, who had been monitoring Bohemia and Cannabia for several months, capitalized on the growing chaos to launch a coordinated takedown. The investigation revealed that many sellers on Bohemia were based in the Netherlands, and it was discovered that at least 14,000 transactions had been processed from the country, amounting to over €1.7 million in value.
How Much Is Stolen Data Sold For On Darknet Markets?
We also control for electricity prices, since cannabis is usually produced indoors, which requires significant amounts of electricity to power lamps used as a substitute for natural sunlight. And, we account for GDP per capita, as well as for legal status of cannabis in the seller’s origin country. It scans darknet marketplaces and hacker forums to alert you instantly if anything shows up.
Secure Your Cryptocurrency Transactions

The official We The North market URL is a hidden service accessible through the TOR network. WeTheNorth Marketplace provides cannabis flowers, oils, edibles, accessories, and more through a safe, encrypted Canadian platform. At We The North Market, we understand that you may have questions about using our platform.
- These software are also capable of launching DDoS attacks and phishing campaigns.
- Valued at approximately $15 million, Abacus Market is one of the most lucrative platforms in the dark web ecosystem.
- The most common method is to use the Tor browser, which can be downloaded for free from the Tor Project website.
- In the reviewed papers, rates of up to 50 % were used to correct the initial estimates of the number of users or to suggest alternative scenarios.
- With a clean interface, reliable uptime, and active vendor support, it continues to stand out as a trusted hub for darknet commerce.
- As of 2020, nearly 57% of the dark web was estimated to contain illegal content, including violence and extremist platforms.
Known for its deep vendor network, fast transactions, and stealth-first philosophy, DarkMatter is engineered for users who take anonymity seriously. While law enforcement typically continues to target the largest darknet marketplaces like Archetyp, it has moved away from multi-DNM takedowns such as 2014’s Operation Onymous. Instead, law enforcement agencies now appear to focus more closely on the vendors. Without vendors, darknet marketplaces cannot operate or generate profits, making them a more strategic enforcement target. The takedown of Bohemia and Cannabia represents a significant milestone in the ongoing battle against dark web marketplaces.
The rogue developer’s actions, combined with increasing internal problems, led to widespread distrust among users and vendors, many of whom found themselves unable to access their funds. Despite assurances from the administrators that Bohemia would continue to operate, it became clear by late 2023 that the market’s days were numbered. The first model starts with an estimation of the total amount of a drug that is produced, before subtracting seizures and quantities that are not intended for the illicit market. This provides an estimate of the amount of drug that is available in a given geographical region.

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This further complicates monitoring efforts because now you need to search for the related Telegram channels and track activity there and on the marketplace itself. And beware—while many explore out of curiosity or for research purposes, it’s important to remember that engaging with these platforms, even as an observer, can lead to serious legal and ethical consequences. Accessing them may require .onion links and the Tor browser, but caution is advised due to legality and cybersecurity risks.
Nowadays, they have relocated online, especially to the more clandestine areas of the “darknet.” In 2022, there were 133 publications returned when the phrase “darknet AND drugs” was used in the search in MEDLINE. These publications are primarily based on data gathered through passive observation. Some authors attempted to analyze a single substance using “Big data” techniques 4. Recent projects have scanned a variety of digital markets to gain a better knowledge of these markets’ offers, country disparities, and availability of specific substances. Interviews with merchants and consumers are a crucial part of understanding the mechanisms of the Internet market 5-8. The shift to digital markets has also reshaped the way illicit substances are bought, sold and distributed.