One of the socially dangerous acts in the world, which has taken perhaps even the main place in the «shadow Internet», is occupied by drugs. Drug addiction, drug distribution and drug-related crime not only represent a threat to the state and public security but also lead to the degradation and extinction of all mankind.
The modes and methods of drug-related crimes are constantly improving along with scientific and technological progress and social relations development. The problem of narcotic drug distribution through the Internet is also very important for Russia, and it is required an immediate solution. According to experts’ estimation, more than 10,000 Internet sites openly advertise drugs in Russia.
Nowadays, it is not possible to talk about online drug trafficking within a single country because such illegal transactions system acquired a global scale long ago. The level of drug crimes in the world is about 45 per 100 thousand population according to the UN information. In Russia, the level of drug-related crime per 100 thousand population in 2010 was 155.8 on average country-wise, in 2017– 161.99, at the end of 2019–137.27. [2] As can be seen from the above, in Russia this figure is approximately three times higher than in the world. It is related to the fact that Russia differs from other countries in many socioeconomic, geopolitical, demographic, migration, natural-climatic, and other factors.
The growing illegal production and distribution of heroin and hashish from the northern and northwestern regions of Afghanistan through Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan have a decisively negative effect on the drug situation development in Russia. Cocaine from Latin America, synthetic drugs from European countries and China are becoming more widespread. Significant market growth for permitted production of cannabis for recreational purposes in Canada and Uruguay is observed [5].
Nowadays, a tendency of steady «rejuvenation» of drug addiction, which is alarming for society and the country, has clearly emerged. New sites for the sale, promotion of drugs for every taste and colour are appearing every day. New telecommunication technologies allowed a significant increase in sales, assortment expansion, and protection of criminal activities deep secrecy for drug dealers. Apart from this, materials publications on the sale, methods of preparation and use of narcotic drugs increase the drug addiction of the Russian population, simplify access to drugs, primarily among the youth.