Russia’s illegal drug trade thrives in the dark web

The drug transactions plaguing some Moscow neighborhoods begin in drug supermarkets hidden online in the deepest reaches of the “dark web.”

Here, hundreds of eager suppliers compete to satisfy their customers’ sophisticated palettes. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are the legal tender here. In exchange, buyers are issued GPS coordinates to the spot where their purchases await in flower beds and drain pipes.

The anonymity these marketplaces provide and the fact that they remove the most troublesome link in any drug deal — the real-life meeting between dealer and buyer — have been a boon for Russia’s illegal drug sellers.