Our expertise includes:
Possession of drugs
If you have been caught in physical possession of a drug purchased from the dark web, you may be charged with possession or possession with intent to supply (depending on the circumstances, such as quantity of drug).
We can assist with these types of cases, including where the police or prosecutor has obtained evidence from the dark web or that suggests you used the dark web to purchase Class A, Class B or Class C drugs.
Supply of drugs
Selling drugs over the dark web or selling drugs you bought from the dark web could result in a prosecution for a range of ‘supply offences’. We can advise on all types of supply offence, including:
Importation of drugs and smuggling
The dark web is commonly used to facilitate the importation of drugs into the UK from other countries. These crimes are often revealed when Border Force detects and seizes suspicious deliveries at the border and enforcement officers may use these to track down the sender and recipient.
See also – Fentanyl Importation and Smuggling.
Drug conspiracies
A drug conspiracy is where two or more people agree to commit a drugs offence, such as supplying drugs or importing drugs. We can assist if you have been accused of conspiring to commit a drugs offences, including:
County lines
We can assist with investigations and prosecutions arising from ‘county lines’ offences. County lines refers to the range of criminal offences associated with smuggling drugs across county borders, usually via children and vulnerable adults. Such offences include:
The dark web is often used to facilitate county lines offences, such as setting up drug deals, purchasing firearms, and grooming vulnerable people. We are familiar with the role dark web evidence can play in county lines offences and can provide practical advice.
Common questions about dark web drug offences
What is the dark web?
The dark web is a hidden and often encrypted part of the internet that is not indexed by search engines and can only be accessed via ‘anonymous’ web browsers such as Tor (The Onion Router) or small peer-to-peer networks.
Anonymous networks are said to conceal the user’s location and internet activity from anyone conducting network surveillance or web traffic analysis. So, the dark web has naturally become a place for people to conduct criminal activity, such as using ‘darknet markets’ to trade illicit goods, facilitating the importation of drugs or grooming young and vulnerable people into trafficking drugs. A famous example of a darknet market is Silk Road, a drugs marketplace that was shut down in 2013.
Is it illegal to access the dark web?
Although the dark web is used for criminal activity, there are also plenty of legitimate ways people use it, so it's important to understand the dark web laws in the UK. Many people believe that it’s illegal to go on the dark web, but in fact, accessing the dark web in itself if not illegal and you cannot be prosecuted for it. For example, some people use the dark web simply to protect their data from websites and advertisers.
However, if the dark web is used for criminal activity (such as hosting or accessing child pornography) or to facilitate criminal activity (such as arranging drug deals) then you can be prosecuted.
Is the dark web anonymous?
It is a common misconception that you can never be identified or get arrested for going on the dark web for illegal activities. The methods these networks use to hide identities, such as relaying the user’s data through multiple servers, make it difficult but not impossible to trace the user or the web host involved.
Dark web drug offences are on the rise and authorities in the UK (such as the police, National Crime Agency and GCHQ) and across the globe have become increasingly aware of the growing risk of cybercrime and work internationally to tackle it, including policing the dark web. The UK government has invested billions over the years to tackle cybercrime, so the risks of using the dark web cannot be understated.
For example, in 2020, an international law enforcement operationcalled DisrupTor resulted in a coordinated raid on dark web marketplaces and the arrests of hundreds of individuals around the world.
How are dark web drug offences investigated?
The police and law enforcement agencies are understandably cautious about advertising how they investigate criminal offences involving the dark web. Their methods could include:
- Tracing IP addresses – often not possible when encrypted networks are involved.
- Gathering Open Source Intelligence (i.e. publicly available information) – this involves collecting crumbs of any available information online to unmask suspects, such as posts on public forums, blogs or social media. Enforcement officers count on the fact that, although people who deal drugs on the dark web take steps to conceal their identities, they must reveal some information to attract customers and facilitate deals. This is ultimately how the darknet market, Silk Road was taken down in 2013.
- Seizing data – for example, when the German drug dealer, ‘Shiny Flakes’ was arrested, it was discovered that he kept a spreadsheet of orders that the police could use to track down his customers.
- Examining Bitcoin transactions – blockchain evidence may be used to demonstrate large transactions relating to dark web drug deals.
- Intercepting deliveries – although online activity can be well hidden using the dark web, ultimately, illegal goods such as drugs and firearms have to be physically delivered. If a delivery is intercepted by Border Force on its way in or out of the country, it gives law enforcement an opportunity to monitor where the delivery goes, investigate who posted the items or make arrests.
- Going undercover on the dark web – police or other enforcement officers may pose as customers online or infiltrate forums to gather evidence.
- Other tools and technology that are not widely available to the public.
Contact our dark web drug offence solicitors now
Facing drug offence allegations after using the dark web? Get in touch with our expert darknet solicitors now for advice or immediate representation by using our simple contact form to request a call back or contacting us on one of the following numbers:
- Call 0333 009 5968 – for standard enquiries during office hours
- WhatsApp 07535 215140 – for 24/7 emergency support including police station representation
If you need advice from an expert drugs conspiracy solicitor, come to Conspiracy Solicitors.
