Across Russia, at any given moment, thousands of clandestine drug packages are hidden underground, covertly secured by magnets to lamp-posts or concealed beneath window sills, patiently waiting for their intended customers to retrieve them.
From the bustling streets of Moscow to the remote villages of Siberia, traditional hand-to-hand drug transactions – once customary in many parts of the world – have seen a dramatic decline. Instead, a new method has emerged where retail-sized bags of illicit drugs are covertly planted by a network of young kladmen (stash men), who share specific dead-drop locations via online platforms, activating these hidden spots only when a customer completes an online purchase.
“Everyone above the age of 14 in Russia knows about kladmen and dead drops,” revealed a Russian lawyer specializing in drug-related issues. The knowledge is widespread, aided by resources like the Kladman’s Bible, a guide instructing couriers on how to package and conceal drugs while skillfully evading police and “seagulls” – thieves adept in targeting dead-drop locations. Detailed instructions even advise operatives to mask their footprints during the harsh Russian winter.
But the phenomenon transcends mere dead drops. A recent report from the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) unveils a sophisticated ecosystem powered by highly organized crime groups, distinguished by their adept use of technology, self-promotion, and often brutal violence. Amid Russia’s stringent anti-drug laws and geopolitical isolation, a thriving darknet drug market has flourished. Promoted through extravagant websites, cinematic-quality promotional content, and audacious public relations stunts on the streets of Moscow, this industry now commands the entire drug trade, from manufacture to sale, and is rapidly expanding beyond Russia’s borders, reaching the conflict zones of Ukraine and urban centers like Tbilisi and Seoul.
At the bottom of this intricate system is a conveyor belt of poorly compensated Russians, seeking quick financial gains in a landscape marked by economic instability and high inflation. Russian prisons teem with young kladmen, many of whom find themselves conscripted to fight on the front lines in Ukraine. Those who receive negative reviews from customers face harsh retaliations from enforcers, with brutal beatings often detailed and distributed via Telegram.
The cornerstone of this illicit enterprise is mephedrone, a potent stimulant powder colloquially known as “salt” in Russia, which enjoyed a brief surge in popularity in the UK during the late 2000s as an affordable alternative to cocaine and MDMA. One proprietor of an online drug store described it as akin to a “new religion” for the youth of Russia, emphasizing that its appeal is not merely a reaction to demand but a product of strategic marketing.
For those reaping profits from this illicit trade – the darknet platforms reminiscent of Amazon and the myriad of storefronts that pay for visibility on these platforms – mephedrone is the quintessential product. It is synthesized using readily accessible precursor chemicals sourced from China, facilitating local production close to the consumer base, a crucial aspect when catering to the vast expanse of the world’s largest country. This minimizes the risks and costs associated with importing foreign-manufactured cocaine, MDMA, and heroin.
The darknet marketplaces also serve as central hubs for sharing precursor chemicals, laboratory equipment, and instructional videos, resulting in a widespread network of amateur chemists producing mephedrone across the nation.
This distinctive model has been forged from necessity and a country well-versed in the digital domain. The substantial risks associated with buying and selling drugs in Russia, whether on the streets or through the country’s unreliable postal services, have incubated a new system that operates under the cloud of anonymity. In less than a decade, this illicit trade has morphed into a billion-dollar industry, far surpassing the valuation of its western counterparts.
“It was as if the Russian market was waiting for a contactless method of drug delivery,” a Russian drug expert stated in the GI-TOC report. He elaborated that prior to the advent of the dead drop system, individuals often endured prolonged waits for dealers, fearful of violence from potential robbers and vulnerable to police scrutiny, as the locations of dealers were well-known. Hence, the introduction of dead drops initially fostered a sense of security among users.
This innovative model has gained traction in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, where soldiers utilize Telegram channels and dead drop strategies to procure drugs. Shortly after Mariupol fell, a shop named CaifCoin was actively seeking kladmen to aid its operations in the area, while another establishment, Republic, began distributing free samples through dead drops in occupied Kherson. Shops within these territories offered incentives of approximately 18,000 rubles (£140, $180) for individuals willing to deliver beatings to wayward couriers.
The proliferation of this Russian model is most evident in bordering nations, but in June 2023, South Korea’s President, Yoon Suk Yeol, declared an “all-out war” against online drug traffickers using dead drops following hundreds of arrests and a tragic incident involving a 14-year-old girl found unconscious in a public restroom after purportedly purchasing crystal meth using cryptocurrency.
The longest-standing darknet platform, Hydra, reaped an astounding $1.7 billion in 2021, catering to 17 million users. Functioning as a monopoly, Hydra also became a global nexus for money laundering and hacking until German authorities dismantled its operations by shutting down 55 servers located in Frankfurt. In the aftermath, multiple new darknet platforms – Mega, Kraken, OMG! OMG!, and Blacksprut – have emerged, now vying for clientele in a burgeoning underground marketplace. Notably, a bus resounding with electronic music, emblazoned with Kraken’s logo and a QR code for drug purchases, was used to obstruct one of Moscow’s busiest streets. In a striking previous promotion, an enormous electronic billboard advertising Blacksprut depicted a woman wearing a futuristic mask alongside the message: “Come to me if you’re looking for the best.”
“Moriarty,” the enigmatic figurehead leading the largest darknet market, Mega, openly mocks Russian law enforcement, who have struggled to apprehend the key players in the industry. He keeps his 2.8 million followers updated with provocative videos that blend themes of masculinity and lessons on profiting from the drug trade.
As with many illicit markets, the drug trade in Russia is plagued by extreme violence. Numerous online shops employ enforcers known as “sportsmen” to locate and discipline kladmen whose performance has garnered negative feedback from customers who were unable to locate their drugs, or those suspected of pilfering. The most vulnerable couriers, lacking the financial means to pay required deposits, must provide identification, making them easily traceable.
These violent reprisals are frequently recorded and disseminated on social media platforms, with certain Telegram groups accumulating extensive catalogs of brutal footage, totaling up to 2,000 clips. In these videos, victims are shown begging for mercy, while it has become commonplace to witness astonishingly brutal assaults, with some extreme cases even documenting murder.
“The individuals orchestrating Russia’s drug trade, particularly within the primary darknet markets, possess unparalleled control over the distribution of drugs that consumers are most inclined to purchase,” states the report. “Darknet markets should be perceived not merely as online platforms but as a complex criminal ecosystem that significantly influences drug consumption, distribution, and production patterns in Russia as well as an increasing number of countries bordering Russia.”
What are the implications of the rise of kladmen and dead-drop systems for law enforcement in Russia?
**Interview with Valentina Ivanova, a Russian lawyer specializing in drug-related issues**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Valentina. The rise of the “kladmen” and the dead-drop system in Russia represents a significant shift in how drug transactions are conducted. Can you explain how this new method has evolved from traditional face-to-face dealings?
**Valentina Ivanova:** Absolutely. Traditional drug transactions often involved direct interactions, which posed risks for both buyers and sellers, especially given the possibility of police interference or violence from robbers. The dead-drop system allows for anonymity and reduces these risks significantly. Once a customer makes an online payment, they receive the location to retrieve their order, minimizing the need for face-to-face encounters.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned that nearly everyone over the age of 14 is aware of kladmen and dead drops. How do you think this widespread knowledge impacts the drug landscape in Russia?
**Valentina Ivanova:** The knowledge is pervasive, supported by guides like the “Kladman’s Bible,” which instructs users on how to navigate this illicit world. This familiarity fosters a certain acceptance among young people towards drug use, leading to a market that’s not just demand-driven but heavily marketed as well. This is particularly evident with substances like mephedrone, which have gained a sort of “cultural acceptance” among the youth.
**Interviewer:** Speaking of mephedrone, why has it become the cornerstone of this underground market instead of other drugs?
**Valentina Ivanova:** Mephedrone is relatively easy to produce using readily available precursors. It’s also marketed aggressively and considered a cheaper alternative to more established drugs like cocaine and MDMA. This combination of accessibility and appealing marketing has positioned it as the dominant product in the Russian drug trade.
**Interviewer:** You highlighted the role of organized crime groups in this ecosystem. Can you elaborate on their influence and methods?
**Valentina Ivanova:** Organized crime groups have adapted remarkably well to leverage technology, utilizing sophisticated darknet markets for distribution. They employ brutal tactics to enforce compliance and instill fear among low-level operatives, like kladmen. This kind of control ensures a steady flow of drugs while also maintaining operational security.
**Interviewer:** With the way this system functions and its rapid expansion beyond Russian borders, what does this mean for global drug trafficking?
**Valentina Ivanova:** It indicates a pressing need for heightened international cooperation among law enforcement agencies. As these methods proliferate, countries that might traditionally view their drug issues as localized are increasingly facing global challenges. Countries like South Korea have already begun implementing measures to curb the spread, recognizing the need for swift action in an interconnected world.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Valentina, for sharing your insights on this concerning issue. It appears that the Russian drug market’s innovation presents not only challenges but also lessons for other nations facing similar obstacles.
**Valentina Ivanova:** Thank you for having me. It’s crucial to understand these evolving dynamics to develop effective responses to the ongoing drug crisis.
