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Criminal networks are utilizing e-commerce models, encrypted messaging, and digital payments to create a more efficient and organized method of drug trafficking that is also difficult to detect.
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About 70% of drug users in Pakistan are under 30 – these days, students are becoming a major target for dealers who use the internet to find them.
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Experts have shared a few solid ideas to handle this mess —they want tougher border checks, better tech for law enforcement, and everyone in government actually working together.
Fighting drug dealing isn’t just a street thing now. It’s all online, almost. These criminals are getting seriously crafty with their sales tactics. Experts (this time from Pakistan) are warning everyone: stay sharp to avoid falling for their tricks.
The New Digital Drug Marketplace
A recent session held by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS), a non-profit research centre focused on the study of the region around Pakistan, sounded the alarm. The event, “Dark Web and E-Commerce in Pakistan: Emerging Tactics of Drug Trafficking,” pulled in experts from around the world. They didn’t sugarcoat it—the state of drug trafficking right now is alarming.
Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of IRS, kicked things off. He highlighted the double-edged sword of online platforms. They offer great opportunities but also expose young people to crime. He mentioned how buying and selling drugs online has become a huge problem. He really pushed for better training for cyber specialists and called for agencies like the FIA to step up their game.
Troels Vester, who heads the UNODC in Pakistan, broke it down further. He made it clear: the Dark Web isn’t just some tech buzzword. It’s a powerful tool for cybercriminals, letting them hide their tracks and run all sorts of illegal operations, from drug distribution to sophisticated data theft, as highlighted by the recent FBI warning Gmail users of a cookie theft attack bypassing 2FA. This reliance on shady digital infrastructure was also demonstrated in another recent instance when Dutch police shut down a criminal host used for dark web activities, showing how vital it is to target the services that make these crimes possible.
The head of UNODC revealed that criminals are now misusing common messaging apps for drug distribution.
Even more cleverly, networks are copying e-commerce operating models. This makes their trafficking operations more organized and hidden from authorities. He warned that Pakistan’s online drug markets are expanding fast. Sellers use encrypted channels and digital payments to stay under the radar.
A Coordinated Response is Essential
The experts agreed that old methods are not enough. This new threat calls for a sharp, tech-savvy response—and yes, it needs real funding behind it. Oliver Gadney, who coordinates programs at UNODC, brought some global perspective to the table. He talked about the tools and methods needed to counter dark-net crime. The UNODC programs coordinator pointed to the effectiveness of large-scale, coordinated takedowns, similar to the recent Global ‘Operation Endgame’ that disrupted major cybercrime networks, as a blueprint for the kind of international cooperation needed to combat these digital drug markets.
He pointed out just how tricky it is to track these online networks. Agencies really have to work together—no room for anyone to go it alone. Cutting off the money that keeps these criminal operations running is huge. Police can’t just chill, either—the digital world moves fast, and they have to keep up.
Mansoor Khan, former chairman of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs, also had something to say. He said Afghanistan and Pakistan are still key producers and routes of the whole opiate trafficking. Not much has changed there, honestly.. This fuels regional drug flows. He then issued a stark warning about educational institutions. They are increasingly vulnerable.
Students have become major targets for these distribution networks. The numbers are alarming. He said nearly 70% of Pakistan’s drug users are under 30. Stress, peer pressure, and easy access make the issue even tougher. The Anti-Narcotics Force tries hard, but dealers still get through with online tricks and old smuggling paths.
To close out, Amb. Saleem took the mic again. He made it clear—there’s no magic fix. We need a big-picture approach. This means combining stronger border controls with better monitoring systems. That means raising public awareness and making sure every institution pulls its weight. Only by working together can we handle these new digital and cross-border threats.
