The Silent Online Epidemic: A Fight Against Digital Drug and Trafficking Cartels
Introduction
We were all stunned and taken aback when multiple photos of streets in the U.S. surfaced with heavily drugged individuals loosely sitting on the streets, victims of a systematically led drug operation that has recently become a target of the Trump-led “tariff” war, which he terms as a war on drug cartels. The drug is a synthetic opioid, fentanyl, which is highly powerful and addictive. The menace of this drug is found in a country that has Wall Street and the largest and most powerful economy globally. The serious implications of drug abuse are not about a certain economy; instead, it has huge costs to society in general. The estimated cost of substance misuse to society is more than $820 billion each year and is expected to continue rising.
On June 26, the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is observed globally. However, this war is waged daily for millions of people, not on streets or borders, but in bloodstreams, behind locked doors, and inside broken homes. Drug abuse is no longer a health crisis; it is a developmental crisis. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has launched a campaign against this organised crime that says, “Break the Cycle’ attributing to the fact that de-addiction is hard for individuals.
The Evolving Drug Crisis: From Alleyways to Algorithms
The menace of Drug abuse and illicit trafficking has also taken strides in advancement, and what was once considered a street-side vice has made its way online in a faceless, encrypted, and algorithmically optimised sense. The online drug cartels operate in the shadows and often hide in plain sight, taking advantage of the privacy designed to benefit individuals. With the help of darknet markets, cryptocurrency, and anonymised logistics, the drug trade has transformed into a transnational, tech-enabled industry on a global scale. In an operation led by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Joint Criminal Opiod and Darknet Enforcement (JCODE) and related to Operation RapTor, an LA apartment was only to find an organised business centre that operated as a hub of one of the most prolific methamphetamine and cocaine distributors in the market. Aaron Pinder, Unit Chief of the FBI Hi-Tech Organised Crime Unit, said in his interview, “The darknet vendors that we investigate, they truly operate on a global scale.” On January 11, 2025, during the Regional Conference on “Drug Trafficking and National Security,” it was acknowledged how cryptocurrency, the dark web, online marketplaces, and drones have made drug trafficking a faceless crime. Reportedly, there has been a seven-fold increase in the drugs seized from 2004-14 to 2014-24.
India’s Response: Bridging Borders, Policing Bytes
India has been historically vulnerable due to its geostrategic placement between the Golden Crescent (Afghanistan-Iran-Pakistan) and Golden Triangle (Myanmar-Laos-Thailand), and confronts a fresh danger from “click-to-consume’ narcotics. Although India has always adopted a highly sensitised approach, it holds an optimistic future outlook for the youth. Last year, to commemorate the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment organised a programme to engage individuals for the cause. The Indian authorities are often seen coming down heavily on the drug peddlers and cartels, and to aid the cause, the Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the new office complex of the NCB’s Bhopal zonal unit and extension of the MANAS-2 helpline to all 36 states and UTs. The primary objectives of this step are to evaluate the effectiveness of the Narcotics Coordination Mechanism (NCORD), assess the progress of states in fighting drug trafficking, and share real-time information from the National Narcotics Helpline ‘MANAS’ portal with the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of states and UTs.
The United Nation’s War on Narcotics: From Treaties to Technology
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is leading the international response. It offers vital data, early warning systems, and technical support to the states fighting the drug problem. The UNODC incorporates cooperation in cross-border intelligence, overseeing the darknet activities, encouraging the treatment and harm reduction, and using anti-money laundering mechanisms to stop financial flows. India has always pledged its support to the UN led activities, and as per reports dated 26th March, 2025, India chaired the prestigious UN-backed Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) meeting held in vienna, wherein India highlighted the importance of opioids for medical purposes as well as the nation’s notable advancements in the field.
Resolution on June 26: From Commemoration to Commitment
Let June 26 be more than a date on the calendar- let it echo as a call to action, a day when awareness transforms into action, and resolve becomes resistance. On this day, CyberPeace resolves the following:
- To treat addicts as victims rather than criminals and to pitch for reforms to provide access to reasonably priced, stigma-free rehabilitation.
- To integrate anti-drug awareness into digital literacy initiatives and school curricula in order to teach frequently and early.
- To demand responsibility and accountability from online marketplaces and delivery services that unwittingly aid traffickers
- To tackle the demand side through employment, mental health services, and social protection, particularly for at-risk youth.
References
- https://www.gatewayfoundation.org/blog/cost-of-drug-addiction/#:~:text=The%20estimated%20cost%20for%20substance,Alcohol%3A%20%24249%20billion
- https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/drugs/index-new.html
- https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/global-operation-targets-darknet-drug-trafficking
- https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/dark-web-crypto-drones-emerge-as-challenges-in-fight-against-drug-trafficking-amit-shah/article69088383.ece
- https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2028704
- https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2025/Mar/26/in-a-first-india-chairs-un-forum-on-narcotics-pledges-to-improve-access-to-pain-relief-and-palliative-care
Related Blogs
Executive Summary:
The internet is a nest of scams and there's much need to be careful with predatory ideas that prey on the naïve people. Within the recent days, a malicious campaign has emerged falsely alleging 28 day free recharge by courtesy of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This blog seeks to analyze the tactics used by this scam in luring the victims and give an overview on how one can identify and keep away from such fraudulent activities.
Claim:
In view of the increasing support for the BJP 2024 election, a rumor has allegedly claimed that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi offering a free recharge with a validity period of up-to twenty eight days at cost of ₹239 to all Indian users. The message encourages the users to click on a given link in order to redeem the free recharge, pointing out that this offer is valid until January 26th of 2024.
The Deceptive Journey:
- Insecure Links:The research begins with a suspicious link (http://offerintro[.]com/BJP2024), without any credibility that honest sites use to protect the user information. We should keep in mind that the links which aren’t secure may easily lead to phishing and other cyber threats.
- Multiple Redirects:When users click the link, they are immediately directed through a series of links. This common tactic used by scammers is designed to hide the true origin of their fraudulent scheme, making it difficult for users' efforts to identify the malicious activity.
- False Promises and Fake Comments:The landing page has a banner of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi that makes it look like this is an official channel and hence authentic. Further, false comments can be also included to compliment the alleged initiative. But remember that genuine government announcements are made through legal channels, not by the shady websites.
- Mobile Number Request:As the next step, the users enter their mobile numbers in the specified field. True initiatives never really need the personal information to pass through unofficial lines. This is actually a trick that scammers use to acquire the important information.
- Share to Activate:Once a user has entered the mobile number, he/she is prompted to share the link with others in order to “activate” promised free recharge. This method is most often used by scammers for spreading their fraudulent message beyond the targeted victim.
- Fake Progress Display:When the users have done their part by sharing the link, a false recharge in progress bar is shown to make them believe that it has started. But the consumers are unwittingly playing a part in the fraud.
- Recharge Completion Pop-up:The last stage of fraud includes a pop-up saying that the recharge is done; leaving users with the false belief that they have benefited from a legitimate government initiative.
What we Analyze :
- It is important to note that at this particular point, there has not been any official declaration or a proper confirmation of an offer made by the Prime Minister or from their government. So, people must be very careful when encountering such messages because they are often employed as lures in phishing attacks or misinformation campaigns. Before engaging or transmitting such claims, it is always advisable to authenticate the information from trustworthy sources in order to protect oneself online and prevent the spread of wrongful information.
- The campaign is hosted on a third party domain instead of any official Government Website, this raised suspicion. Also the domain has been registered in very recent times.
- Domain Name: offerintro[.]com
- Registry Domain ID: 2791466714_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN
- Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.godaddy[.]com
- Registrar URL: https://www.godaddy[.]com
- Registrar: GoDaddy[.]com, LLC
- Registrar IANA ID: 146
- Updated Date: 2023-06-18T20:37:20Z
- Creation Date: 2023-06-18T20:37:20Z
- Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2024-06-18T20:37:20Z
- Name Server: ANAHI.NS.CLOUDFLARE.COM
- Name Server: GARRETT.NS.CLOUDFLARE.COM
CyberPeace Advisory:
- Stay Informed: Beware of the scams and keep yourself updated through authentic government platforms.
- Verify Website Security: Do not get engaged with any insecure HTTP links but focus on URLs that have secure encryption (HTTPS).
- Protect Personal Information: However, be cautious when sharing personal information – especially in a non-official channel.
- Report Suspicious Activity: If you discover any scams or fraudulent activities, report it and the relevant sites to help avoid others from being defrauded of their hard earned money.
Conclusion:
Summing up, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Free Recharge fraud is an excellent illustration that there is always some danger within cyberspace. The way of the method, from insecure links and also multiple redirects to false promises and really data collection make it clear that internet users should be more careful. The importance of staying up-to-date with what is happening in this new digital world, verifying credibility and also privacy are paramount. By being cautiously aware, the people can keep themselves safe from such fraudulent acts and also play a role in ensuring security even for an online world. Remember that an offer which is in a perfect world should be illegal. Therefore, after doing a thorough research we found this campaign to be fake.
Executive Summary:
This report discloses a new cyber threat contributing to the list of threats targeting internet users in the name of "Aarong Ramadan Gifts". The fraudsters are imitating the popular Bangladeshi brand Aarong, which is known for its Bengali ethnic wear and handicrafts, and allure the victims with the offer of exclusive gifts for Ramadan. The moment when users click on the link, they are taken through a fictitious path of quizzes, gift boxes, and social proof, that simply could damage their personal information and system devices. Through knowing how this is done we can educate users to take caution and stop themselves from falling into cyber threats.
False Claim:
The false message accompanied by a link on social media, claims that Aarong, one of the most respected brands in Bangladesh for their exquisite ethnic wear and handicrafts, is providing Ramadan gifts exclusively through online promotion. And while that may be the facade of the scam, its real aim is to lead users to click on harmful links that may end up in their personal data and devices being compromised.
The Deceptive Journey:
- The Landing page starts with a salutation and a catchy photo of Aarong store, and later moves ahead encouraging the visitors to take a part of a short quiz to claim the gift. This is designed for the purpose of creating a false image of authenticity and trustworthiness.
- A certain area at the end of the page looks like a social media comment section, and users are posting the positive impacts the claim has on them. This is one of the techniques to build the image of a solid base of support and many partakers.
- The quiz starts with a few easy questions on how much the user knows about Aarong and their demographics. This data is vital in the development of more complex threats and can be used to address specific targets in the future.
- After the user hits the OK button, the screen displays a matrix of the Gift boxes, and the user then needs to make at least 3 attempts to attain the reward. This is a commonly used approach which allows the scammer to keep users engaged longer and increases the chances of making them comply with the fraudulent scheme.
- The user is instructed to share the campaign on WhatsApp from this point of the campaign, and the user must keep clicking the WhatsApp button until the progress bar is complete. This is a way to both expand and perpetuate the scam, affecting many more users.
- After completing the steps, the user is shown instructions on how to claim the prize.
The Analysis:
- The home page and quiz are structured to maintain a false impression of genuineness and proficiency, thus allowing the victims to partake in the fraudulent design. The compulsion to forward the message in WhatsApp is the way they inspire more and more users and eventually get into the scam.
- The final purpose of the scam could be to obtain personal data from the user and eventually enter their devices, which could lead to a higher risk of cyber threats, such as identity theft, financial theft, or malware installation.
- We have also cross-checked and as of now there is no well established and credible source or any official notification that has confirmed such an offer advertised by Aarong.
- The campaign is hosted on a third party domain instead of the official Website, this raised suspicion. Also the domain has been registered recently.
- The intercepted request revealed a connection to a China-linked analytical service, Baidu in the backend.
- Domain Name: apronicon.top
- Registry Domain ID: D20231130G10001G_13716168-top
- Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.west263[.]com
- Registrar URL: www.west263[.]com
- Updated Date: 2024-02-28T07:21:18Z
- Creation Date: 2023-11-30T03:27:17Z (Recently created)
- Registry Expiry Date: 2024-11-30T03:27:17Z
- Registrar: Chengdu west dimension digital
- Registrant State/Province: Hei Long Jiang
- Registrant Country: CN (China)
- Name Server: amos.ns.cloudflare[.]com
- Name Server: zara.ns.cloudflare[.]com
Note: Cybercriminal used Cloudflare technology to mask the actual IP address of the fraudulent website.
CyberPeace Advisory:
- Do not open those messages received from social platforms in which you think that such messages are suspicious or unsolicited. In the beginning, your own discretion can become your best weapon.
- Falling prey to such scams could compromise your entire system, potentially granting unauthorized access to your microphone, camera, text messages, contacts, pictures, videos, banking applications, and more. Keep your cyber world safe against any attacks.
- Never, in any case, reveal such sensitive data as your login credentials and banking details to entities you haven't validated as reliable ones.
- Before sharing any content or clicking on links within messages, always verify the legitimacy of the source. Protect not only yourself but also those in your digital circle.
- For the sake of the truthfulness of offers and messages, find the official sources and companies directly. Verify the authenticity of alluring offers before taking any action.
Conclusion:
Aarong Ramadan Gift scam is a fraudulent act that takes advantage of the victims' loyalty to a reputable brand. The realization of the mechanism used to make the campaign look real, can actually help us become more conscious and take measures to our community not to be inattentive against cyberthreats. Be aware, check the credibility, and spread awareness to others wherever you can, to contribute in building a security conscious digital space.
Introduction
In today's era of digitalised community and connections, social media has become an integral part of our lives. we use social media to connect with our friends and family, and social media is also used for business purposes. Social media offers us numerous opportunities and ease to connect and communicate with larger communities. While it also poses some challenges, while we use social media, we come across issues such as inappropriate content, online harassment, online stalking, account hacking, misuse of personal information or data, privacy issues, fake accounts, Intellectual property violation issues, abusive and dishearted content, content against the terms and condition policy of the platform and more. To deal with such issues, social media entities have proper reporting mechanisms and set terms and conditions guidelines to effectively prevent such issues and by addressing them in the best possible way by platform help centre or reporting mechanism.
The Role of Help Centers in Resolving User Complaints:
The help centres are established on platforms to address user complaints and provide satisfactory assistance or resolution. Addressing user complaints is a key component of maintaining a safe and secure digital environment for users. Platform-centric help centres play a vital role in providing users with a resource to seek assistance and report their issues.
Some common issues reported on social media:
- Reporting abusive content: Users can report content that they find abusive, offensive, or in violation of platform policies. These reports are reviewed by the help centre.
- Reporting CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material): CSAM content can be reported to platform help centre. Social media platforms have stringent policies in place to address such concerns and ensure a safe digital environment for everyone, including children.
- Reporting Misinformation or Fake News: With the proliferation of misinformation online, users can report content that they find or suspect misleading or false information and Fact-checking bodies are employed to assess the accuracy of reported content.
- Content violating intellectual property rights: If there is a violation or infringement of any intellectual property work, it can be reported on the platform.
- Violence of commercial policies: Products listed on social media platforms are also needed to comply with the platform’s Commercial Policies.
Submitting a Complaint to the Indian Grievance Officer for Facebook:
A user can report his issue through the below-mentioned websites:
The user can go to the Facebook Help Center, where go to the "Reporting a Problem” section, then by clicking on Reporting a Problem, Choose the Appropriate Issue that best describes your complaint. For example, if you have encountered inappropriate or abusive content, select the ‘I found inappropriate or abusive content’ option.
Here is a list of issues which you can report on Facebook:
- My account has been hacked.
- I've lost access to a page or a group I used to manage.
- I've found a fake profile or a profile that's pretending to be me.
- I am being bullied or harassed.
- I found inappropriate or abusive content.
- I want to report content showing me in nudity/partial nudity or in a sexual act.
- I (or someone I am legally responsible for) appear in content that I do not want to be displayed.
- I am a law enforcement official seeking to access user data.
- I am a government official or a court officer seeking to submit an order, notice or direction.
- I want to download my personal data or report an issue with how Facebook is processing my data.
- I want to report an Intellectual Property infringement.
- I want to report another issue.
Then, describe your issues and attach supporting evidence such as screenshots, then submit your report. After submitting a report, you will receive a confirmation that your report has been submitted to the platform. The platform will review the complaint within the stipulated time period, and users can also check the status of their filed complaint. Appropriate action will be taken by platforms after reviewing such complaints. If it violates any standard policy, terms & conditions, or privacy policies of the platform, the platform will take down that content or will take any other appropriate action.
Conclusion:
It is important to be aware of your rights in a digital landscape and report such issues to the platform. It is essential to understand how to report your issues or grievances on social media platforms effectively. By using the help centre or reporting mechanism of the platform, users can effectively file their complaints on the platform and contribute to a safer and more responsible online environment. Social media platforms have their compliance framework and privacy and policy guidelines in place to ensure the compliance framework for community standards and legal requirements. So, whenever you encounter an issue on social media, report it on the platform and contribute to a safer digital environment on social media platforms.
References:
- https://www.cyberyodha.org/2023/09/how-to-submit-complaint-to-indian.html
- https://transparency.fb.com/en-gb/enforcement/taking-action/complaints-handling-process/
- https://www.facebook.com/help/contact/278770247037228
- https://www.facebook.com/help/263149623790594
