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  • Yiannis Konnaris

Smart Drugs and the Crypto-markets of the Darknet

Acknowledging the online challenges for efficient and effective response to Smart Drugs


From a EU perspective, online trade of Smart Drugs admittedly affects most EU Member States to some degree, by linking them to cryptomarkets with a global reach or nationally targeted platforms.


EU also seems to be an essential base for individuals or groups offering drugs online (most notably stimulants), as we notice in the most up-to-date marketplaces data available (European Drug Report 2018 – Trends & Reports), in which it appears that nearly half of all sellers turned up to be located in EU countries.

Moreover, identified threats are quite similar for most of the Member States: the use of continuously improved decentralized and encryption applications; unique and unusual forms of package deliverance and collection; better integration of darknet markets with local drug markets; nationally based darknet markets; and the adoption of GPS-enabled technology for distribution at the local level.


It is my strong belief, that only by acknowledging the diverse challenges for efficient and effective response to the darknet’s facilitated smart drugs transactions, we might able to structure an effective response in relevance to the three major areas, recommended by the EMCDDA’s most recent empirical conclusions and recommendations: i. monitoring & research, ii. law enforcement practice, and iii. policy development.

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