Criminal Networks Using E-Commerce Models Making Drug Trafficking Harder to Detect: UNODC

By Muhammad Shahzad, Lahore – Pakistan

LAHORE, PAKISTAN: The Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) hosted a special session on “Dark Web and E-Commerce in Pakistan: Emerging Tactics of Drug Trafficking and Law Enforcement Responses”, organized by the IRS Cyber Security Program led by Ms. Alina Fayaz. The event brought together diplomats, government officials, and international experts to discuss the growing digital threats related to drug trafficking.

Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of IRS, highlighted that while online platforms provide opportunities, they also expose youth to criminal activities, including online drug sales. He emphasized the urgent need to strengthen state capacities, train cyber specialists, upgrade investigative agencies such as the FIA, and enhance inter-agency collaboration to combat sophisticated digital trafficking methods.

Troels Vester, UNODC Country Representative, noted that the Dark Web is increasingly used to enable cybercrime, offering anonymity for a wide range of illicit activities. He explained that messaging apps are being misused for drug distribution, and criminal networks are adopting e-commerce–style models, making trafficking more organized and difficult for authorities to detect. He warned that Pakistan’s online drug markets are expanding rapidly, with encrypted communication and digital payments helping traffickers evade law enforcement.

Oliver Gadney, Programme Coordinator at UNODC Headquarters, discussed global best practices, technological tools, and investigative methodologies to counter dark-net-based crime. He stressed the importance of inter-agency cooperation and disrupting the financial foundations of criminal networks while adapting law enforcement strategies to fast-evolving digital ecosystems.

Ambassador Mansoor Khan, former Chair of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), highlighted that Afghanistan and Pakistan remain major producers and transit routes for opiates, contributing to regional drug flows. He warned that educational institutions are increasingly targeted, with students becoming primary consumers. Citing alarming statistics, he said nearly 70% of Pakistan’s drug users are under 30, driven by stress, peer pressure, and easy accessibility. Despite the Anti-Narcotics Force’s (ANF) efforts, sophisticated digital networks and traditional smuggling routes continue to facilitate trafficking.

Concluding the session, Amb. Saleem called for a holistic strategy, combining stronger border controls, advanced monitoring mechanisms, awareness campaigns, and coordinated institutional responses to effectively counter emerging digital and transnational drug-trafficking threats.