From the alley to the web

Description

Developments in technology have not only transformed aspects of our daily life, but they have also impacted the way in how illicit transactions are organised, such as illicit drug supply and demand.brbrThis book focuses on illicit drug transactions through drug marketplaces on the dark web, also called cryptomarkets. The dark web is an encrypted, small part of the internet not searchable by regular search engines.brbrThese drug cryptomarkets offer an unprecedented opportunity to study a drug market and to monitor new trends in drug supply and demand. International research has provided some general insights into the profile, experiences and motivations of drug cryptomarket vendors and buyers. This research has however indicated that national differences exist regarding the different variables that relateto cryptomarket use and prevalence.brbrTherefore, in 2019, the Belgian Science Policy Office BELSPO commissioned and financed CRYPTODRUG shedding a first, yet necessary, light on illicit drug trade on cryptomarkets from a Belgian perspective. iFrom the alley to the web. Belgian involvement on drug cryptomarketsi discusses these CRYPTODRUG results. The book does not only focus on the profile of Belgian vendors selling illicit drugs on drug cryptomarkets, but also provides a first insight into the experiences and motivations of Belgian cryptomarket buyers.brbCharlotte Colmanb is assistant professor of Drug Policy and Criminology at Ghent University and member of the Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy IRCPbrAntoon Bronselaer is assistant professor of Computer Science Engineering at Ghent University and member of the research group Database, Document and Content Management DDCMbrbrbMarie-Sophie Devresseb is a professor of Criminology at UClouvain and member of the Interdiciplinary Research Centre on Deviance and Penality CRIDPbrbrbGeert Slabbekoornb was a researcher at the Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy IRCP, Ghent University during the CRYPTODRUG projectbrbr