Characterising the online weapons trafficking on cryptomarkets

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State: Public
Version: author
Serval ID
serval:BIB_BD1327FE2C2B
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Characterising the online weapons trafficking on cryptomarkets
Journal
Forensic Science International
Author(s)
Rhumorbarbe Damien, Werner Denis, Gilliéron Quentin, Staehli Ludovic, Broséus Julian, Rossy Quentin
ISSN
0379-0738
ISSN-L
0379-0738
Publication state
Published
Issued date
02/2018
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
283
Pages
16-20
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
Weapons related webpages from nine cryptomarkets were manually duplicated in February 2016. Information about the listings (i.e. sales proposals) and vendors' profiles were extracted to draw an overview of the actual online trafficking of weapons. Relationships between vendors were also inferred through the analysis of online digital traces and content similarities. Weapons trafficking is mainly concentrated on two major cryptomarkets. Besides, it accounts for a very small proportion of the illicit trafficking on cryptomarkets compared to the illicit drugs trafficking. Among all weapon related listings (n=386), firearms only account for approximately 25% of sales proposal since the proportion of non-lethal and melee weapons is important (around 46%). Based on the recorded pseudonyms, a total of 96 vendor profiles were highlighted. Some pseudonyms were encountered on several cryptomarkets, suggesting that some vendors may manage accounts on different markets. This hypothesis was strengthened by comparing pseudonyms to online traces such as PGP keys, images and profiles descriptions. Such a method allowed to estimate more accurately the number of vendors offering weapons across cryptomarkets. Finally, according to the gathered data, the extent of the weapons trafficking on the cryptomarkets appear to be limited compared to other illicit goods.

Keywords
Ammunition, Darknet markets, Digital traces, Firearms, Forensic intelligence, Internet traces, Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
20/04/2017 18:15
Last modification date
20/08/2019 16:31
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