The NPS Phenomenon and the Deep Web: Internet Snapshots of the Darknet and Potentials of Data Mining

BACKGROUND: The illegal electronic trade of NPS substances on the deep web and the darknet have never been thoroughly mapped. This study will propose and illustrate a blueprint for mapping of the darknet e-marketplace, including activities originating from the Middle East.

MATERIALS & METHODS: Multiple Internet snapshots were taken for the darkest e-marketplace, e-markets, Grams search engine, and e-vendors. In relation to the most popular and high-risk NPS substances, the most dominant e-market will be identified. Special correlation will be carried out with the; population count of shipping countries of NPS, the incidence of rape and sexual assaults, and religious affiliation.

RESULTS: The most popular high-risk NPS were identified; cannabis and cannabimimetic, MDMA, crack, Meth, and LSD. These were geo-mapped primarily into; Netherlands, US, UK, Germany, Australia, Canada, France, and Spain. AlphaBay e-market was found to be a proper representative for the darknet e-marketplace; the main advertised NPS were categorised into cannabis and cannabinoids (1), stimulants (2), empathogens (3), psychedelics (4), benzodiazepines (5), opioids (6), and prescription-related substances (7). The contributing Middle Eastern and Arabic countries included; UAE, Oman, Morocco, Egypt, and Cyprus.

CONCLUSION: The e-commerce activities on the darknet have been ever evolving. Future attempts to study this e-marketplace should be innovative and rely on statistical inference. A blueprint is required for geo-mapping of the shipping countries, including those from the region of the Middle East. Principles of social sciences, including the analysis of the individual basis of power, should be considered.