Offline constraints in online drug marketplaces: An exploratory analysis of a cryptomarket trade network

Cryptomarkets, or illegal anonymizing online platforms that facilitate drug trade, have been analyzed in a rapidly growing body of research. Previous research has found that, despite increased risks, cryptomarket sellers are often willing to ship illegal drugs internationally. There is little to no information, however, about the extent to which uncertainty and risk related to geographic constraints shapes buyers ’ behavior and, in turn, the structure of the global online drug trade network. In this paper, we analyze the structure of a complete cryptomarket trade network with a focus on the role of geographic clustering of buyers and sellers.

Source: International Journal of Drug Policy - April 2, 2018 Category: Addiction Authors: Lukas Norbutas Tags: Research Paper Source Type: research