David M. Desimone III, 18, of 143 Elderberry Lane in Hastings, was charged with 53 felonies and 17 misdemeanors related to illegal firearms, troopers said Friday. — A Central New York teen has been arrested after police discovered he was selling guns on the “dark web” and had hidden them in a secret room in his home, troopers said. It all started back in August 2013, when agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) went undercover and bought a firearm from a user calling themselves “iWorks” on Black Market Reloaded. The agents received the .40 caliber handgun, along with two magazines, the next day. Additionally, many of the marketplaces offer a form of payment protection, where the customer initially pays the marketplace and then indicates that the money can be released when the goods arrive intact.
One of the vendors posted, “Weapons Ukraine,” with lists of rifles, grenades, and bulletproof vests at a price range between $1,100 and $3,600 to be delivered in the territory of Ukraine. The vendor sold almost 32 of its weapons and showed no review on its site. Instead of exotic or rare firearms, the researchers saw handguns – the kinds of weapons someone in the US could buy from stores or vendors with a license. Roughly three-fifths of the weapons sold on a selection of dark web marketplaces originate from the United States, according to a new study examining the scope of the internet’s black market arms trade.
“This is an individual with a fascination with guns, to hold, touch, feel the trigger being pulled, since childhood. Whatever weapon came into his possession was not going to be used for any criminal activity. He was told a Glock had been ordered for delivery and carried out an internet search and realised it was a firearm. First offender Baxter, 50, earlier admitted attempting to acquire and possess an illegal firearm and ammunition on June 29 and 30 last year at his address in Pentland Crescent, Aberdeen. Apart from drugs and arms, many sellers like ‘KingCarder’ ‘AlphaBay’ and ‘Dream Market’ sell guidebooks for bomb-making, valid ID’s, passport details and a lot more. Once the order has been placed, vendors insist on bitcoin payments to beat KYC norms, through which banks can obtain information about the deal.
The Hidden World of Guns on Dark Web
This paper provides a qualitative study on the darknet marketplaces of illegal arms trafficking. For this purpose, we implemented a crawler based on the ACHE Python library to collect hidden web pages (onion services) on the Tor network. We gathered data from ten marketplaces recommended by dark web search engines – Ahmia, Deep Search, and Onion Land Search. We provide a first report of the overall landscape of illicit arms trafficking, discussing the range of weapons such as military drones, explosives, and other related products, together with the payment and shipping methods provided by the vendors. The findings verify previous reports from reputable institutions (United Nations and RAND Europe). Most of these illicit marketplaces are easily accessible to the average user; they are well-organized with a large variety of firearms and also provide extensive customer support.
The dark web has become a notorious marketplace for illegal goods and services, including the sale of firearms. Guns on dark web present a unique challenge for law enforcement and society as a whole. Understanding the dynamics of this shadowy marketplace can provide insights into broader issues related to security, crime, and technology.
Understanding the Dark Web
The market claims the wallet is in “escrow,” but not been confirmed by us. DIG was developed as part of the DARPA’s Memex initiative, which seeks to develop software and search technologies for countering human trafficking, the illegal arms trade and terrorism. It is currently being tested by six police departments and could expand to as many as 200 this year. “There is a lot of interest from law enforcement agencies,” Szekely said.
The dark web refers to parts of the internet that are not indexed by traditional search engines and require specific software, such as Tor, to access. It operates on the principle of anonymity, making it appealing for illicit trade.
Accessibility of Firearms
Downside is that the government has been taking over my job lately, what with marijuana being legalized and all that. Customers are moving towards easier to get and no jail time providing kicks. Had to diversify my portfolio so to speak and turn to gun running on the dark web. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges.
One of the most concerning aspects of the dark web is the accessibility of guns. Users can purchase firearms with relative ease, often using cryptocurrencies to maintain anonymity. This has raised alarms among law enforcement agencies worldwide.
The firearms trade has gained attention following recent terrorist attacks. Recently, The Tor Project sent out a press statement claiming they had a broad population of “normal users” who simply desired the privacy and cybersecurity afforded by Tor and had no inclination towards criminal or illicit activity. Clearly, this was an effort on Tor’s part to defend their services in light of burgeoning interest and awareness of Tor along with the Deep and Dark Webs. They discovered the types of firearms were mainly handguns, rather than rifles, possibly due to the fact they are easier to ship or post.
Common Types of Weapons Available
“Conducting online investigations, whether on the darknet or on the surface web, requires a very specific skill set.” “Such currencies present a real challenge for law enforcement because it doesn’t physically reside somewhere, making it hard to trace without special, very expensive software and highly trained personnel to do the work,” O’Reilly said. And, despite the government’s best efforts to destroy this market, analysts say it remains to be seen what kind of long-term impact Uncle Sam is really having. Exit node eavesdropping doesn’t pose a specific breach of anonymity; however, the intercepted traffic can reveal a wealth of information (e.g., passwords) via data from protocols and payloads.
MOST BOUGHT GUNS
- Handguns: Often the most frequently sold items.
- Rifles: Available in various calibers and conditions.
- Fully automatic weapons: Sometimes offered in illegal transactions.
- Homemade firearms: Instructions and kits for building guns.
- Ammunition: A variety of ammunition types are sold alongside firearms.
Risks Involved in Purchasing Guns on Dark Web
Buying guns on dark web is fraught with risks, including:
- Legal Consequences: Many countries have strict laws against the possession and sale of unlicensed firearms.
- Fraud: Many users fall victim to scams, losing money without receiving products.
- Safety Risks: Purchasing firearms from unknown sources can lead to dangerous situations and ownership of unreliable weapons.
- Surveillance: Law enforcement agencies actively monitor these platforms and track transactions, increasing the risk of capture.
Law Enforcement Response
Authorities around the globe are increasingly focused on combating the sale of guns on dark web. Strategies include:
- Undercover Operations: Law enforcement officers pose as buyers to gather intelligence.
- Blockchain Forensics: Tracking cryptocurrency transactions used in purchases.
- International Cooperation: Collaborating with agencies across borders to address the issue effectively.
FAQs About Guns on the Dark Web
- We used this quite powerful tool able to download primary data from the dark web and run our analysis.
- Australians have access to a wide variety of untraceable ‘ghost guns’ online along with a significant market of 3D printed weapon blueprints and kits, according to a new study from The Australian National University (ANU).
- More than $3 million worth of illegal guns and drugs were seized during the operation.
- He illustrates this claims via comprehensive search probes conducted by Onionscan to query a database of upwards of thirty thousand Tor sites.
1. Is it legal to buy guns on the dark web?
In most jurisdictions, purchasing firearms without proper documentation is illegal. Transactions on the dark web typically fall under this category.
2. How do people access dark web gun markets?
Users often use Tor or other anonymous browsers and may also employ VPNs to hide their locations and identities.
3. What payment methods are commonly used?
Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are often used for transactions, as they provide a level of anonymity that traditional payment methods do not.
4. Can law enforcement track dark web transactions?
Yes, law enforcement agencies employ various technologies to track and analyze transactions on the dark web.
Understanding the phenomenon of guns on dark web is crucial for addressing issues related to public safety and crime. Greater awareness can lead to informed discussions and actions to combat the illegal arms trade effectively.
