Regional Drug Trade via the Internet: Role Characteristics of its Participants

A characteristic feature of modern drug trafficking is its contactless sale via the Internet. Such criminal activity is organized and is carried out at the regional, interregional or interstate level. The authors of the paper analyze the distribution of roles between the participants of criminal groups, which allows them to act clearly and smoothly and avoid criminal prosecution. The participants of the drug market are identified as "organizers", "regional managers", "producers", "suppliers", "operators", "financial directors", "curators", "storekeepers", "advertisers", "hackers", "couriers", "kladmen". The conducted research allow us to conclude that the structure of organized criminal groups in the regions is not so extensive and due to the combination of the functions of individual participants in criminal groups is often reduced to 3-4 role components. These include: "organizer" — a person who has established the supply of narcotic drugs to the region, who has created an Internet resource for their sale and supports the activity and vital activity of such a resource; "operator" — an intermediary who supports the interaction of drug users and pawnbrokers through the Internet; "kladmen"who directly create dead drops ("zakladki") intended for drug users. The paper considers the functions that are assigned to each of the participants of such criminal groups. Separately, the authors focus on the measures taken by members of criminal groups to conceal criminal activities: the use of encrypted messengers for communication, Internet websites specializing in drug trafficking; the use of electronic money and cryptocurrencies; the trivial involvement of front persons to register financial and banking transactions.