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When the Markets Are Inaccessible: A Dark Web Drug Market Disruption Typology

Author

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  • Elena Morgenthaler

    (School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia)

  • Andrew Childs

    (School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia)

  • Benoit Leclerc

    (School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia)

  • Danielle Reynald

    (School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia)

Abstract

Dark web drug market participants (both buyers and vendors) face frequent disruptions that affect their access to marketplaces. While these disruptions vary in their duration and the actors involved, existing research has largely concentrated on closures by law enforcement. Recognising the broader range of disruptions experienced by participants is essential for understanding how dark web markets adapt and evolve. This paper presents a typology of dark web drug market disruptions, informed by the current literature, categorising disruptions along two key dimensions: the duration of the disruption (temporary versus permanent) and the actor involved (internal versus external) in the disruption. This typology provides a comprehensive framework for analysing how different forms of disruption may influence market participant decision-making processes and the resilience of illicit online drug markets. In doing so, the typology highlights how disruptions that differ in duration and origin may have varying implications for participant behaviour and market resilience.

Suggested Citation

  • Elena Morgenthaler & Andrew Childs & Benoit Leclerc & Danielle Reynald, 2026. "When the Markets Are Inaccessible: A Dark Web Drug Market Disruption Typology," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-13, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:15:y:2026:i:6:p:407-:d:1972904
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