Current Problems of Combating Drug Trafficking Using the Internet

Abstract

The purpose of the article – based on the analysis of scientific and theoretical views of scientists, the results of research by international organizations in the field of prevention and counteraction to drug trafficking on the Internet, give a scientific understanding of the distribution and distribution of narcotic drugs, psychoactive, substances and precursors using the Internet as a tool to achieve criminal goals and on the basis of the obtained data to outline possible ways to minimize their spread in the Internet space. The methodological basis of the scientific article is a holistic and coherent system of methods, which allowed to properly analyze the subject of research, in particular, used scientific methods of analysis, synthesis, induction and deduction. The theoretical basis of this publication were the works of domestic and foreign scientists on aspects of combating drug crime on the Internet, the creative understanding of which allowed to draw sound conclusions. The scientific novelty of the publication lies in the systematic analysis of the most common ways of distributing drugs, psychoactive substances, drugs and their analogues via the Internet. Based on the analysis, it was found that the successful prevention of the spread of drugs via the Internet, their detection, today, is quite rare. Problems of counteracting illicit drug trafficking via the Internet have been identified. Areas of activity to detect criminal encroachments related to their sale via the Internet are outlined. With the improvement of technical devices for the use of Internet opportunities, the ways of committing such crimes are also improved. Therefore, in order to counter them, it is advisable to involve specialists who have the relevant special knowledge and professional skills in the field of computer technology with the ability to detect signs of drug crimes on the Internet, and identify new ways and opportunities to use modern tools to commit them. Conclusions. Real counteraction to the spread of psychoactive substances, drugs and their analogues on the Internet is possible only if the perception of such a phenomenon as systemic, covering a range of organizational, social, economic and other measures. To counter the proliferation of psychoactive substances, drugs and their analogues, the question of ways and mechanisms of their implementation on the Internet requires constant monitoring to predict and prevent such criminal offenses.

Keywords: Internet; Internet users; «Internet dealers»; drug trafficking; distribution of narcotic drugs; psychoactive substances; counteraction.