The Drug's in the Mail - The Silk Road and our very own Tronica!

[poledriver]

Don’t take the Silk Road to gaol

Customs and Border Protection continues to actively monitor the so called ‘anonymous’ online drug marketplace Silk Road and, as online discussions show, is disrupting the illegal trade it facilitates.

Silk Road is an overseas based illicit e-commerce website which sells drugs and other items prohibited under Australian law.

Customs and Border Protection seizes a significant amount of cocaine and MDMA in the international mail stream, which intelligence shows has been purchased through the Silk Road website. These packages may contain only a few grams of an illicit substance, yet our world class detector dogs and cutting edge x-ray technology allow us to identify and seize them.

The message is clear to users of Silk Road; even if your package contains a small amount of drugs for personal use, Customs and Border Protection has the ability to detect them and find you, no matter where you are in Australia.

Customs and Border Protection works closely with federal and state law enforcement partners, as well as international partner agencies, to share intelligence. This creates a global web of intelligence about known sellers and buyers, a web which gets tighter with every transaction.

As a result of the pressure applied by Customs and Border Protection, several ‘anonymous’ Silk Road dealers have announced on forums that they will no longer sell to Australians, or they have imposed more stringent transaction rules on Australian buyers. This demonstrates that Customs and Border Protection is actively disrupting this illegal trade in dangerous drugs.

National Manager of the Cargo and Maritime Targeting Branch, John Gibbon, used these recent announcements to warn users of such alleged ‘anonymous’ websites not to jeopardise their future.

“Don’t fool yourself that a shipment is too small to warrant further investigation. Illegally importing any amount of a border controlled drug, even for personal use, is taken very seriously,” Mr Gibbon said.

“Those who think themselves safe behind an ‘anonymous’ web handle are potentially wasting their money with scammers, and exposing themselves to prosecution. The risk just isn’t worth it.”

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/silkroadgoal.asp

 

[Jabberwocky]

Also, if you haven't done it already, head to Global Drug Survey at http://www.globaldrugsurvey.com/mixmag2013/

Why do the survey? Because I managed to get a few questions in the survey on Silk Road: whether you've heard of it, whether you've used it, why or why not, and if yes, which drugs you have bought.

the combination of TOR and bitcoin are what allow SR to function. Why would SR users then answer what they purchased through that survey?

 

[futura2012]

My opinion on the status of this thread:
- it's really useful as a compendium of media interest in Silk Road
- it's interesting to read people's opinions on it and their reasons why they would avoid it (or use it)
- honestly, if you think this thread is drawing undue attention to SR, you have an inflated sense of Bluelight's importance... given the scope and size of other media outlets who have mentioned SR.

But please, let's not talk specifics or sourcing here.

Whilst I am all for this thread and do agree with you mentioning Silk Road on Blue Light is a drop in the ocean in the grand sceme of things to then mention please dont mention sourcing on here is quite frankly like saying please stop posting in this thread.

 

[poledriver]

What? Havent we been over most of this already. Its the mods call. Snr mods have been here and checked it out.

I post media releases mostly, and I'm trying to stay away from discussing any specifics like asked.

Any further posts about accessing silk road or regarding tech issues will be unapproved.

You have gone against what a mod here has said and I would imagine your post will be edited or deleted.

There are no probs over in DiTM with articles and discussions on this subject.

 

[futura2012]

Hello poledriver I have edited the post.

i didnt see anything wrong with it as it just contained quotes from this page but maybe i am wrong.

I am always baffled by this thread.

 

[Tronica]

Whilst I am all for this thread and do agree with you mentioning Silk Road on Blue Light is a drop in the ocean in the grand sceme of things to then mention please dont mention sourcing on here is quite frankly like saying please stop posting in this thread.

Hi futura2012 - what I meant to say (sorry I wasn't clearer the first time) was that we should avoid mentioning specifics. What I mean by that is 'yesterday I received a package from SR with 1 gram MDMA' or 'Is SR down for you, I can't access it' or 'what do you think of vendor X'... etc. This is normal BL rules as per other threads.

While I may be on staff, if AusDD staff did want to close this thread or modify its content, it's their call. But as I said above, I find it a very useful compendium of news and thoughts on a topic which I'm highly interested in

 

[Tronica]

the combination of TOR and bitcoin are what allow SR to function. Why would SR users then answer what they purchased through that survey?

I don't fully follow your logic here - are you saying that the survey results would somehow make it harder to use Tor and bitcoin?

We are simply interested in take-up of SR across different countries & especially why people decide to use it or decide NOT to use it - of course it would be interesting to see whether people are using it for drugs that are readily available in their countries or more for newer/rarer products.

 

[Tronica]

Don’t take the Silk Road to gaol

[snip]

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/silkroadgoal.asp

Did anyone else notice the typo in the URL? Silk Road Goal? 8)

 

[Jabberwocky]

I don't fully follow your logic here - are you saying that the survey results would somehow make it harder to use Tor and bitcoin?

We are simply interested in take-up of SR across different countries & especially why people decide to use it or decide NOT to use it - of course it would be interesting to see whether people are using it for drugs that are readily available in their countries or more for newer/rarer products.

no, i mean that the anonymity afforded by TOR and bitcoin are not <expressly>offered by the survey, and whether that's a truly valid concern or not, it will certainly sway many from responding.

 

[futura2012]

Hi futura2012 - what I meant to say (sorry I wasn't clearer the first time) was that we should avoid mentioning specifics. What I mean by that is 'yesterday I received a package from SR with 1 gram MDMA' or 'Is SR down for you, I can't access it' or 'what do you think of vendor X'... etc. This is normal BL rules as per other threads.

While I may be on staff, if AusDD staff did want to close this thread or modify its content, it's their call. But as I said above, I find it a very useful compendium of news and thoughts on a topic which I'm highly interested in

Cheers Tronica thanks for the explaination thats made things pretty clear. Nice one.

Although baffled in terms of permission to do it I also like this thread.

 

[Tronica]

no, i mean that the anonymity afforded by TOR and bitcoin are not <expressly>offered by the survey, and whether that's a truly valid concern or not, it will certainly sway many from responding.

Fair call. I'm not running this survey (even though I had input into the questions). The surveys I run I always expressly mention Tor and how anyone concerned about tracking (ISPs, governments, etc.) should use it. Even if they trust the survey in question (eg. the researchers and the institution), if they are talking about illicit activities online, they should definitely get familiar with encryption, tor and all the other privacy tools available for their more general online communications.

The other issue to consider here is that most of the people completing GDS are mainstream folks using mainstream drugs and aren't that fussed about these sorts of issues. But I still think it's worth prompting even those people to know more about protecting their privacy online.

In any case, you can do GDS through Tor. So those who know about it can manage any privacy risks by not revealing their true IP address.

On these matters - which very much pertain to this thread IMHO - I recommend anyone who can to go to a #CryptoParty. I went to one last week and learned a lot about encryption tools. Read a message from Assange for more about why we should all be learning about and implementing this: http://cryptome.org/2012/12/assange-crypto-arms.htm

 

[Tronica]

Cheers Tronica thanks for the explaination thats made things pretty clear. Nice one.

Although baffled in terms of permission to do it I also like this thread.

No problems - though as I said before, I'm not calling the shots in this thread, and will allow the local mods to determine what is appropriate and what is not.

Also worth noting that - as always - you need to remember that this thread is public and there are people monitoring it.

To drive home the point, I was contacted last week by a journalist who is putting together a story on SR to discuss one of my posts. While it's a little different for me (I am not hiding my real identity and am happy to be contacted) it is a reminder that if you say anything self-incriminating and you are easy to identify, you may end up attracting the kind of attention you don't want. So, the BL rules are here to guard against that scenario

 

[Verybuffed]

Also worth noting that - as always - you need to remember that this thread is public and there are people monitoring it.

To drive home the point, I was contacted last week by a journalist who is putting together a story on SR to discuss one of my posts. While it's a little different for me (I am not hiding my real identity and am happy to be contacted) it is a reminder that if you say anything self-incriminating and you are easy to identify, you may end up attracting the kind of attention you don't want. So, the BL rules are here to guard against that scenario

Great post Tronica.

Glad to hear that you are getting this issue out for us. Keep up the good work and ignore the haters.

 

[shimazu]

if SR ever went down you could just use another website. BMR is the same exact thing, except with less of a selection*

 

[Jabberwocky]

theoretically you could, but silk road's main selling point to the general end-user population is a setup where feedback allows somewhat objective analysis of a seller and their product, if you go to lesser sites that key point is lost.
(incidentally, this is what aus authorities seek to disrupt, as it is <clearly> the most effective way to get at SR. The "all things vice" or whatever website has an article elaborating on this)
((if silk road goes down, yes the next-best would take its place but that's not a smooth transition like it would be if these were open markets. SBR or whatever wouldn't just see an increase comparable to what SR lost, not immediately anyways, and whatever was successful in hurting SR would be infinitely more successful on a fledgling alternative))

 

[BongoBongo]

Tronica

Good segment on last night's tv. 5th Dec 2012.

Unbiased and informative. Very well done.

 

[Jabberwocky]

TV? Links?
Go Tronica, spread that good word! For freedom, fun and finances!!

 

[Fieldy]

Was nice to see you on Telli Tronic....<edit>...anyone who orders drugs online is an idiot plane and simple and deserves to get caught....just my 2 cents!

 

[Tronica]

Here it is...

Users shed light on dark internet's drug trade

abc.net.au
7:30
Broadcast: 05/12/2012
Reporter: Conor Duffy

Users of the dark internet have shed light on their illegal trades on a growing online black market, which is helping more and more Australians to buy drugs and weapons.

Watch here (9.01mins): http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2012/s3648415.htm

Or read Transcript:

CHRIS UHLMANN, PRESENTER: The dark internet is a part of the web that most people never see, but an increasing number of Australians are entering to buy drugs and weapons.

The Silk Road website is a particular headache for authorities. It's an anonymous online marketplace where people sell drugs that are posted to customers all over the world.

For the first time tonight, users of the site speak out about their illegal trades and the growing online black market.

Conor Duffy reports.

CONOR DUFFY, REPORTER: At last weekend's Stereosonic dance music festival in Melbourne partiers replayed a familiar ritual, running a gauntlet of sniffer drugs and police.

MARK PILKINGTON, VICTORIA POLICE: We've detected a range of drugs - amphetamine, cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana and some magic mushrooms.

CONOR DUFFY: The celebration was over before it began for this dancer and about 90 others who were caught by sniffer dogs. Many more got through undetected and drugs are such a big part of the party scene that it's a risk some believe is worth taking.

FESTIVAL ATTENDEE: When you're on drugs, if you ever felt it - I haven't felt it personally - when you're on drugs when you felt it, you just - you embrace the music.

FESTIVAL ATTENDEE II: Most of my friends use drugs, so I think it's pretty easy to get them nowadays.

CONOR DUFFY: This year some of those drugs would have been bought online where a number of websites are competing for the drug dollar. One of those sites is the Silk Road, an eBay for drugs where encryption software allows vendors to be anonymously rated. It's currently frustrating authorities around the world.

MONICA BARRATT, NATIONAL DRUG RESEARCH INSTITUTE: It has withstood over 18 months of time of being completely public about its existence, of the Federal Police in all jurisdictions of the world being aware of it and it's withstood that.

MATT WARDELL, CUSTOMS: Certainly over the last 12 months or so, last financial year, for example, we noticed a jump of more than 40 per cent in the number of small seizures made at mail centres around the country. That's obviously got a lot to do with the increase in online trade.

CONOR DUFFY: 20-year-old Ryan West from Perth now works as a storeman driving a forklift. Previously he made a living purchasing MDMA, the main ingredient in ecstasy, from his bedroom. He then sold it on to friends and acquaintances who picked up the drugs from his house.

RYAN WEST: In about November I did one trial run to see if it actually worked and see if it was all legitimate. And then I loaded up my bank account on there sorta thing and did a big couple of orders for Christmas because of the Christmas rush. ... 20 out of 20 packages I had at one time and I haven't had many packages go missing, so quite successful.

CONOR DUFFY: Over the next six months, he says he spent US$20,000 on MDMA and turned a massive profit.

RYAN WEST: Well MDMA was my profit - my profit drug sorta thing. It was extremely profitable. $300 - $300 investment into $2,500 in a day.

CONOR DUFFY: Ryan West says he noticed a huge increase in traffic on the site over the time he spent purchasing drugs to sell in Perth. He says the Silk Road's owners even hold weekend and Valentine's Day sales to entice new visitors.

RYAN WEST: When I got involved it was quite small, but more and more people started to come along and I just think they did that Valentine's sale to, like, get everyone to try it, the time is now sorta thing, try it. And, yeah, that generated a lot of sales for them in my opinion. The popularity of the site over that weekend increased quite a lot.

CONOR DUFFY: Ryan's world of drugs and easy money came crashing down in August this year when authorities raided his house. He was convicted of four charges including intent to supply a prohibited drug and placed on an intensive supervision order. Ryan says he only got caught because he was dealing drugs out of the house and that other users on the Silk Road who post drugs to their customers run little risk of being caught.

RYAN WEST: I was extravagant. I didn't really care if I got caught. I wasn't covering my trails at all. I was happy to get caught, really, because I was stuck in there anyway. Like, I was stuck in dealing, like, it was too easy to do and too hard to get out of. And, yeah, authorities will not be able to stop this. Like, they can slow it down definitely, but there's always going to be drugs in the mail one way or the other.

CONOR DUFFY: Customs and the Australian Federal Police are keen to dispute that and say the Silk Road only leads to jail. They say there have been a number of successful prosecutions, but couldn't say how many, saying there are too many agencies involved.

MATT WARDELL: It is a very big risk. If you try to bring this stuff into the country, there's a very big risk Customs and border protection will seize it at the border, you'll lose your money, you'll lose the goods and you may go to jail.

CONOR DUFFY: Drug users and some experts believe the only weapon Customs has is searching through the mail because the technology used to mask Silk Road sales is impenetrable.

CHRIS MCDONALD, COMPUTER SCIENCE, UNI. OF WA: The algorithms themselves are very strong. It's not just governments but also police forces and so on not able to break into the technology that's currently being used.

CONOR DUFFY: To protect its illegal trade, the Silk Road uses complex masking software and money exchanges. Users have to download an encryption network and the only money allowed is Bitcoin, an online currency that also hides purchasers' identities.

Computer expert Chris McDonald is not a Silk Road user, but has studied the technology behind it and believes it's unbeatable.

CHRIS MCDONALD: We're talking about tens of thousands if not millions of years to break into these algorithms.

CONOR DUFFY: Customs and border protection say random searching of mail isn't there only option and intelligence from infiltrating the site is leading to arrests.

MATT WARDELL: We can point to a number of significant detections of goods and successful prosecutions that we have made based on intelligence. More than 80 per cent of our seizures at the border come from intelligence. We're making these seizures every day.

CONOR DUFFY: Bill - not his real name - is a vendor on Silk Road who posts drugs to customers in Australia.

'BILL': I use the Silk Road to find buyers for some of the narcotics that I deal online. I also use it as a buyer myself and I'm able to get drugs for festivals, parties, you know, stuff like that, and even psychedelics to try out cool new stuff.

CONOR DUFFY: Bill isn't concerned about the attention of Customs. He's a big fan of the site, which he says offers drug takers a safe option. As a seller on the site, he has access to some buyer information and he says business is good.

'BILL': Australian traffic has doubled, tripled, quadrupled. There's more vendors now. There's definitely more buyers. You can see them on the forums, you can see their posts. Not only that, but in the recent months, there's been an American traffic explosion and that led to the site actually going down for a certain amount of time.

CONOR DUFFY: Bill says his customers range in age and gender and believes the Silk Road is the future of drug dealing.

'BILL': If Silk Road was shut down, people would simply change over to a new network.

CONOR DUFFY: No-one knows the identity nor location of the mysterious founder of Silk Road who goes under the pseudonym the Dread Pirate Roberts. Drug researcher Monica Barratt has been in communication with him and on the site he claims he's starting a community of libertarian revolutionaries. But with a commission on all sales ranging from 1.5 to 10 per cent, the revolution is making its owners a tidy profit.

MONICA BARRATT: He's an anonymous figure. He may indeed may be a group, he may be a she. It is unknown where this person resides or even if it's more like a group of people who are making this happen.

CONOR DUFFY: Authorities say that such anonymity brings bigger dangers than being arrested.

MATT WARDELL: You have no quality control when you're buying something from an online anonymous marketplace. So not only are you breaking the law, but you're arguably taking a big risk with your own health. So the argument about whether this is safer or more convenient doesn't really wash. It's still illegal and it's a big risk.

CONOR DUFFY: But as the arrests at festivals across the country show, there continues to be a demand for the drugs and plenty of sellers ready to meet it.

Ref: http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2012/s3648415.htm

 

[mister]

anyone who orders drugs online is an idiot plane and simple and deserves to get caught....just my 2 cents!

Im unsure as to whether this is you saying this or you are quoting someone else? if it is you, then sir, are an ignoramus of the highest order.