Abstract:
Background: The article highlights a type of illegal drug trafficking using
the internet (the virtual drug business) that is currently relevant for
Ukraine. Illegal distribution of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances
and precursors via the internet is characterized.
Methods: The methodological basis of the research is presented as comparative-
legal and systematic analysis, formal-legal method, interpretation
method, hermeneutic method as well as methods of analysis and synthesis.
The following research methods were used in the process of performing
the set tasks: With the help of the formal-logical method, the main legal
categories of the legal regulation of combating crime in the sphere of trafficking
of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues and
precursors were studied; the system-structural method was used to identify
and analyze methods of combating crime in the sphere of trafficking of
narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues and precursors;
with the help of the comparative-legal method, the foreign experience of
legal regulation of combating crime in the sphere of trafficking of narcotic
drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues and precursors was analyzed,
which deserves attention; with the help of the formal legal method,
appropriate proposals for Ukrainian legislation were prepared.
Results: Positive experience of special law enforcement agencies of the
United States of America, Great Britain, Spain, Sweden, the Czech Republic
and Estonia was studied. A separate legal analysis of the legal acts
of foreign countries on combating illegal sale of narcotic drugs, psychotropic
substances or their analogues via the internet and improving activities
performed by Ukrainian law enforcement agencies in the specified
area were carried out.
Conclusion: It was established that as of today functions of countermeasures
in foreign countries give way to criminal-based prevention of ensured
elimination of causes and conditions as well as to preventive measures
aimed at controlling crime with the use of a wide range of citizen
assistance. During the research, the main scheme of illegal sale of narcotic
drugs, psychotropic substances or their analogues using the internet was
established
• Methods of ordering (various messengers, free services of instant
transmission of SMS, audio, video messages, social networks:
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Skype, Viber, WhatsApp, etc.);
• Methods of payment for the ordered narcotic drug (methods of
transferring money through self-service payment terminals: PrivatBank,
IVOH; Savings Bank; via electronic payment systems
and electronic wallets Privat24, Oschad24, Global Money, QIWI,
PayPal, EasyPay; by replenishing electronic wallets with “electronic
money,” as well as payment with electronic currency “Bitcoins”
or cryptocurrency (crypto-services: BTCU, Bitobmen.
Pro, EXMO); by replenishing a mobile phone number; in person
during the meeting; by leaving money at the specified place; by
leaving money at the place of a stash point organized);
• Drug packaging depending on the type of substance, their forwarding
or forwarding of drug stash points (openings between
windows, electrical panels in entrances, deserted places in parks
and squares, tree hollows, empty buildings and structures, etc.)
