Some Problematic Areas of Countering Drug Traffi cking in the Internet Information and Telecommunications Network

Abstract

The paper deals with the research into the problematic aspects of countering drug trafficking on the Internet, which is a serious and ever-growing threat to public health. The relevance of the subject could be accounted for by the specificity of the online environment, which provides opportunities for anonymity, cross-border activities and rapid distribution of illicit substances. The major issue addressed consists in identifying and systematizing the key factors hindering the effective combating online drug trafficking, despite the efforts of law enforcement agencies.The research employed a comprehensive methodological approach, including systemic analysis to consider the issue as a multi-level system with interrelated elements.The findings obtained highlighted a number of key problematic aspects, including the rapid development of the so-called ‘darknet’, the use of anonymous technologies, the criminals’ high technological proficiency, as well as and their rapid adaptation to new tools, the cross-border nature of the Internet, the scale and the rate at which drug information is disseminated online, and the challenges in identifying the actors involved in illicit activities.The practical benefi ts of the study consist in the possibility of utilizing the identified problematic aspects to develop and improve the strategies and the tactics for countering drug trafficking on the Internet.The findings can be used in the elaboration of new legislative initiatives aimed at regulating activities in the online environment, as well as in the design of specialized training programs for law enforcement offi cers involved in combating cybercrime. The results of the study may also contribute to developing cooperation in this area and generating effective technical solutions for identifying and blocking resources used for drug trafficking.