Kerala engineer held for selling drugs over the internet: What is the ‘dark web', and is it really all dark?

Indian Express

15 hours ago

Written by Shaarvi Magazine
A 35-year-old mechanical engineer from Kerala's Muvattupuzha town was recently arrested for selling drugs over the dark web.
According to the police, Mulayamkottil Edison was a 'level-four darknet vendor', and was allegedly caught in possession of LSD blotters — blotter paper infused with the hallucinogenic lysergic acid diethylamide, or LSD — ketamine, and cryptocurrency worth around Rs 1 crore.
What is the dark web, and why is it often used for crimes? What is a level-four vendor? We explain.
The dark web is a hidden section of the internet that cannot be located by regular search engines and requires specialised tools or browsers to access it. Unlike open web browsers like Firefox, Google, or Yahoo, where user activities can be monitored through IP addresses, the dark web conceals identities, creating a refuge for individuals who desire privacy or anonymity.
The idea of an encrypted, hidden part of the internet started in the 1990s, with the US Naval Research Laboratory creating preliminary versions of The Onion Routing project, later called Tor. Tor involves embedding encryptions in communication networks, rather like the layers of an onion, and the aim was to protect important government communications shared over the internet.
Developed by Roger Dingledine and his colleagues in the early 2000s, Tor aimed to enhance online privacy by routing traffic through volunteer-operated servers and encrypting data to obscure user identities.
Over the years, it has garnered a reputation for illegal activities, including the trade of illicit goods and cybercrime. Law enforcement faces the challenge of balancing online privacy with the need to combat crime, highlighting the complex interplay of technology, privacy concerns, and the evolving online landscape.
How does one access the dark web?
Users need to download Tor, known for its emphasis on user privacy and anonymity. Tor routes connections through multiple servers (known as nodes) that are chosen randomly worldwide, encrypting data at each step. This makes tracing activity nearly impossible.
Once inside, websites on the dark web use '.onion' domains, which are not indexed by traditional search engines. Tor does not perform searches on dark web pages on behalf of the user; instead, the user must actively look for those dark web pages on their own. Marketplaces, fora, and even libraries exist here, but so do black markets selling drugs, weapons, stolen data, and hacking services.
Is it really that 'dark'?
While the dark web is infamous for illegal transactions, it also serves legitimate purposes. Whistleblowers, journalists, and activists use it to communicate securely under repressive regimes. Platforms like SecureDrop allow anonymous leaks, protecting sources from retaliation. In countries with heavy internet censorship, the dark web provides a lifeline to uncensored information. It is also used by hospitals or other institutions to protect their data.
However, its anonymity also fuels cybercrime. Black markets like the now-defunct Silk Road have operated here, trading in narcotics, counterfeit currency, and malware. Stolen financial data, hacking tools, and even contract killers have been advertised on these platforms. Law enforcement agencies worldwide monitor dark web activity, but the ever-evolving encryption methods make tracking criminals a persistent challenge.
And what is a 'level-four vendor'?
As reported by The Indian Express, according to sources in the NCB, the grading of the vendor depends upon the potency of the drugs sold and 'the customer service' offered. Edison was the only level-four vendor in India, sources said.
The writer is a student and a summer intern at The Indian Express.