Drug Trafficking

Drug traffickers are increasingly taking advantage of the Internet to sell their illegal substances through encrypted e-mail and other Internet technology. Some drug traffickers arrange deals at Internet cafés, use courier websites to track illegal packages of pills, and swap recipes for amphetamines in restricted-access chat rooms.

The Internet's easy-to-learn, fast-paced character, global impact, and fairly reliable privacy features facilitate the marketing of illicit drugs. Detecting money laundering of cash earned by drug traffickers is very difficult because dealers are now able to use electronic commerce and Internet banking facilities. Also, traffickers have been using online package tracking services offered by courier companies to keep tabs on the progress of their shipments. If there happened to be some sort of undue delay, this could signal authority interception of the drugs, which would still allow the dealers time to cover their tracks. Law enforcement is also more deficient because illicit drug deals are arranged instantaneously, over short distances, making interception by authorities much more difficult.

The rise in Internet drug trades could also be attributed to the lack of face-to-face communication. These virtual exchanges allow more intimidated individuals to more comfortably purchase illegal drugs. The sketchy effects that are often associated with drug trades are severely minimized, and the filtering process that comes with physical interaction fades away. Furthermore, traditional drug recipes were carefully kept secrets. But with modern computer technology, this information is now being made available to anyone with computer access.

The 1990s birthed the concept of raves, underground dance parties that often house a wide range of club drugs. These club drugs include such substances as MDMA, GHB, LSD, and ketamine. The Internet provides a perfect service that integrates the promotion of raves and the offering of these club drugs. Since rave promoters have come under scrutiny in the past decade, they have paid much attention to the use of words and phrases they use to advertise these potentially dangerous parties. Most websites will avoid the term‘rave and often label the gathering as a Christian get-together that prohibits the use of drugs or alcohol. They tend to advertise water, pacifiers, and candy, which help counteract the effect of drugs such as MDMA or ecstasy. It is essential that individuals can recognize these common rave implications and take action accordingly.