Narcotics Control Bureau organises “Darkathon-2022”

Context

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is organising a “Darkathon-2022” to find solutions to counter drug trafficking through the darknet.

About Darkathon-2022

It is being organised in three phases from February 15 to April 22.
The initiative aims at involving students, youth and technical experts to find effective solutions to unravel the anonymity of darknet markets.
The agency recently smashed three groups of drug peddlers that were operating on the network that is accessed through encryption software which enables anonymity of users.
Citing the UNODC World Drug Report-2021, 94% of the sales in the darknet markets are related to drugs.

Effective enforcement activities had resulted in the enhanced seizures of all major drugs in recent years.

It was organised as the bureau finds that the anonymity offered by the darkweb has drawn criminals in various garbs to flock to it for aiding and abetting their crimes.

Darknet markets offering illegal substances and services to people have emerged as one of the major challenges to law enforcement across the globe.

Drugs are the most widely offered illegal substance in all of the darknet markets.

The prize money for the first winner is Rs 2.50 lakh, the runner-up would get Rs 2 lakh and the third winner Rs 1.50 lakh.

What is darknet?

The darknet or dark web or deep web is a maze of secret websites which can be accessed only through encrypted channels.
Unlike our traditional internet search activities which can be easily traced by governments, the darknet is a tough nut to crack as the person's identity remains anonymous.
Nowadays, darknet has become a hidden platform meant for the sale and purchase of much of the contraband items like drugs, arms, pornographic content and other illegal activities.
The darkweb operates in secrecy using the onion router (ToR). This is being done to avoid be snooping by law enforcement and other intelligence agencies.

Narcotics Control Bureau

It was constituted by the Government of India in 1986 under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
It is the apex coordinating agency under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The National Policy on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances is based on Article 47 of the Indian Constitution which directs the State to endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption, except for medicinal purposes, of intoxicating drugs injurious to health.
Drug abuse control is the responsibility of the central government.
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985-

It provides for the penalty of property derived from or used in illegal traffic in narcotic drugs.
The Act made an express provision for constituting a Central Authority for the purpose of exercising the powers and functions of the Central Government under the Act.

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