Has Anyone Used Silk Road to Buy or Sell Steroids?

[Millard]

Has anyone used Silk Road to buy or sell steroids?

It seems to be a relatively popular marketplace for non-AAS drugs on the Controlled Substance list. But AAS, not so much. Why?

 

[regular]

I know many guys who have used the silk road to purchase AAS. How are you determining that there is a low volume of AAS sales there?

 

[Millard]

I know many guys who have used the silk road to purchase AAS. How are you determining that there is a low volume of AAS sales there?

Solely based on it being rarely discussed in steroid source forums. But then again, perhaps AAS buyers using silk road don't go to source forums?

 

[regular]

The guys I know who have used it are generally young college aged people who have little to no experience with the classic methodology. The silk road is big and out in the open thanks to the free advertising from the government. The tantrum they've thrown over it's existence in the news media has backfired and they've told every beginner how to get a source. Vets aren't going to go there.

Here's an idea of their volume. It's difficult to know the volume PEDs being sold there.

Black Market Drug Site 'Silk Road' Booming: $22 Million In Annual Sales - Forbes

http://arxiv.org/pdf/1207.7139v1

 

[Millard]

The guys I know who have used it are generally young college aged people who have little to no experience with the classic methodology. The silk road is big and out in the open thanks to the free advertising from the government. The tantrum they've thrown over it's existence in the news media has backfired and they've told every beginner how to get a source. Vets aren't going to go there.

Here's an idea of their volume. It's difficult to know the volume PEDs being sold there.

Black Market Drug Site 'Silk Road' Booming: $22 Million In Annual Sales - Forbes

http://arxiv.org/pdf/1207.7139v1

Thanks for the info!

The big question is: Is it safer than traditional source forum methodology? If so, why wouldn't vets go there? Are they too entrenched in the old ways?

 

[Donzi]

Thanks for the info!

The big question is: Is it safer than traditional source forum methodology? If so, why wouldn't vets go there? Are they too entrenched in the old ways?

if its not broke dont fix it.
1 of my guys local can computer dissect anyone.
Tor may claim anonymity but I just dont see. it. pulling ur router history is scary easy. So ok Tor is full proof., then its well why u run that program. etc. idk, not worth the risk imo, but i will tell u Silk Road has worked for people I no.

 

[regular]

Thanks for the info!

The big question is: Is it safer than traditional source forum methodology? If so, why wouldn't vets go there? Are they too entrenched in the old ways?

There is a learning curve associated with using the silk road. The only accepted payment method there is bitcoin, someone can't get there unless they're familiar with tor, and a customer is generally required to use PGP/GPG to communicate with a source. The security practices being used at the silk road are excellent and are light years ahead of the methods being employed elsewhere. Most of the people I encounter in the standard places don't know how to use these technologies. There is insufficient pressure from law enforcement on the current methodology to force change at this time. The current system is working.

 

[Donzi]

There is a learning curve associated with using the silk road. The only accepted payment method there is bitcoin, someone can't get there unless they're familiar with tor, and a customer is generally required to use PGP/GPG to communicate with a source. The security practices being used at the silk road are excellent and are light years ahead of the methods being employed elsewhere. There is insufficient pressure from law enforcement on the current methodology to force change at this time because the current system is working.

Thats were I find myself in a mental tug or war. I am just a reg guy with basic computer skills, I rad my buddy set me up to be a little on the safe side. I have seen him hack in2 Government files in 10 min,, I have never heard anything bad about Tor. But with ur knowledge if u shell ur system until Tor is up is it really Bullet Proof ?
Just a question / Concern. Again this kid is a computer Ninja. He has programs that r just insane.
Any input would be legit.
Thank.x

 

[regular]

Thats were I find myself in a mental tug or war. I am just a reg guy with basic computer skills, I rad my buddy set me up to be a little on the safe side. I have seen him hack in2 Government files in 10 min,, I have never heard anything bad about Tor. But with ur knowledge if u shell ur system until Tor is up is it really Bullet Proof ?
Just a question / Concern. Again this kid is a computer Ninja. He has programs that r just insane.
Any input would be legit.
Thank.x

Security is about layers of protection and not ever relying on one system for security. It's not tor alone that makes the silkroad secure. It's the combined usage of bitcoin, tor, and PGP/GPG which gives the processes employed there an immense security advantage. It is possible to eliminate tor services. There have been enormous child pornography rings on tor which have been attacked by large teams of savvy people and dismantled.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Hackers-Attack-Child-Porn-xfoftp-2604008042.html

http://www.ibtimes.com/anonymous-back-action-targets-child-porn-web-sites-releases-user-names-325728

 

[Donzi]

Security is about layers of protection and not ever relying on one system for security. It's not tor alone that makes the silkroad secure. It's the combined usage of bitcoin, tor, and PGP/GPG which gives the processes employed there an immense security advantage. It is possible to eliminate tor services. There have been enormous child pornography rings on tor which have been attacked by large teams of savvy people and dismantled.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Hackers-Attack-Child-Porn-xfoftp-2604008042.html

Anonymous Back in Action: Targets Child Porn Web Sites, Releases User Names

exactly what i figured, I am sure just like any thing else if used in moderation the DEA wont do shit. once u open the flood gates is when they would start sum thing. Still 4 me, Ill steer clear, The digital finger print we can leave is getting harder and harder to wipe off.

 

[Millard]

I have never heard anything bad about Tor. But with ur knowledge if u shell ur system until Tor is up is it really Bullet Proof ?
Just a question / Concern.

Security is about layers of protection and not ever relying on one system for security. It's not tor alone that makes the silkroad secure. It's the combined usage of bitcoin, tor, and PGP/GPG which gives the processes employed there an immense security advantage. It is possible to eliminate tor services.

Feds busted group selling narcotics on Silk Road in Operation Adam Bomb.

Read about this and more comments about silk road in an earlier thread here on meso:

https://thinksteroids.com/community/threads/134307531

 

[regular]

Feds busted group selling narcotics on Silk Road in Operation Adam Bomb.

Read about this and more comments about silk road in an earlier thread here on meso:

https://thinksteroids.com/community/threads/134307531

Embedded Image Unvailable

This is one of the countless examples of hushmail snitching on people who relied upon them. In the early stages the operators placed 100% of their confidence in hushmail and relied solely upon it to transmit all of the sensitive details of the operation including payments and shipping details. If you read over the 66 page indictment you'll notice the cornerstone of the entire case was the US government's ability to gain access to their hushmail communications. The operators also accepted payments in the form of mailed cash and numerous traditional online payment options. The government was able to compel traditional payment providers to disclose the transaction details associated with the operation. The operators did not utilize a layered approach to security and did not operate at all times from a position of distrust.

Indictment: http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/threatlevel/2012/04/WILLEMSIndictment-FILED.045.pdf

US DOJ Press Release: http://www.justice.gov/usao/cac/Pressroom/2012/045.html

Wired Summary:8 Suspects Arrested in Online Drug Market Sting | Threat Level | Wired.com

 

[Dr JIM]

I would avoid ANY website which enables the purchase of controlled substances especially schedule II or their street analogs. Since it's well known, LE vigorously pursues illicit schedule II sales I would not want my name, including one that's factitious, even remotely associated with that sort of activity. I believe the colloquialism "birds of feather folk together" is most fitting.

 

[Millard]

I would avoid ANY website which enables the purchase of controlled substances especially schedule II or their street analogs. Since it's well known, LE vigorously pursues illicit schedule II sales I would not want my name, including one that's factitious, even remotely associated with that sort of activity. I believe the colloquialism "birds of feather folk together" is most fitting.

I just hope that steroids aren't pushed further underground. We all know that steroids are categorically different than other scheduled drugs. But law enforcement increasingly treating them similarly. The marketplace will adapt to reflect that.

Another thing to consider is the severity of existing steroid laws. Only the paranoid survive. If LE starts treating AAS users like cocaine users, does that mean AAS users need to take same precautions? #sucks

 

[tanuki]

Same reason people don't encrypt their hard drives or use thunderbird with encryption. Stuffs easy as pie once you get past the learning curve.

Also everything on silk road is priced outrageously high.

 

[Dr JIM]

I know several whom are in, or are associated with LE, and when queried about schedule III AAS sales or purchasing, the response uniformly approximates, we have "bigger fish to fry", the "funding is limited as are our investigations", "know what I mean", "I'm not aware of any SEPARATE AAS investigations" which means there "quite infrequent", "do AAS contribute to violent crime, that's the priority"... "ya know that's an entirely different category that really isn't discussed much",
"I just don't believe the higher ups are interested", "ya know after twenty years of federal LE service more than half involving the DDI (division of drug interdiction) I've never been involved in an investigation where the primary or sole focus was anything but schedule II drugs and similar illicit street drugs especially meth, cocaine, heroin; AAS not in twenty years", "sure if it slaps me/us about the face yet otherwise there just no interest", "the media prize in this business is hardcore streets not AAS"
None of those whom I queried (the professional exposure I have to LE is reasonably high) acknowledged ever being involved in an AAS drug raid!
The individual AAS user is pursued with less vigor than marijuana in many jurisdictions. Moreover, the fact THC has been illegal for close to 50 YEARS but AAS less than ten, the majority in LE rightfully do NOT believe anabolics are the menace many in the mass media (Women's Daily type of magazines) have purported them to be. Nevertheless, don't flaunt their use especially in open quarters such as a gym, and allow someone else to sell them for "profit"!

 

[biggerben69]

All I can say is Yikes!! I hope I don't have nightmares after reading that indictment.

 

[regular]

All I can say is Yikes!! I hope I don't have nightmares after reading that indictment.

Brutal isn't it? No hope for any kind of defense in court.

 

[Millard]

I know several whom are in, or are associated with LE, and when queried about schedule III AAS sales or purchasing, the response uniformly approximates, we have "bigger fish to fry", the "funding is limited as are our investigations", "know what I mean", "I'm not aware of any SEPARATE AAS investigations" which means there "quite infrequent", "do AAS contribute to violent crime, that's the priority"... "ya know that's an entirely different category that really isn't discussed much",
"I just don't believe the higher ups are interested", "ya know after twenty years of federal LE service more than half involving the DDI (division of drug interdiction) I've never been involved in an investigation where the primary or sole focus was anything but schedule II drugs and similar illicit street drugs especially meth, cocaine, heroin; AAS not in twenty years", "sure if it slaps me/us about the face yet otherwise there just no interest", "the media prize in this business is hardcore streets not AAS"
None of those whom I queried (the professional exposure I have to LE is reasonably high) acknowledged ever being involved in an AAS drug raid!
The individual AAS user is pursued with less vigor than marijuana in many jurisdictions. Moreover, the fact THC has been illegal for close to 50 YEARS but AAS less than ten, the majority in LE rightfully do NOT believe anabolics are the menace many in the mass media (Women's Daily type of magazines) have purported them to be. Nevertheless, don't flaunt their use especially in open quarters such as a gym, and allow someone else to sell them for "profit"!

While this may be generally true now. It was generally true 15 years ago too. Most law enforcement officers may share this attitude. But not all.

The legal environment for the non-medical steroid user is significantly riskier now than it was then.

In a post-BALCO, post-Operation Raw Deal, post-Operation Gear Grinder, post-Signature, post-Operation Pangea environment, steroid arrests are increasingly common.

The trend hasn't been favorable for the non-medical steroid user.

A couple of years ago, dozens of Oklahoma bodybuilders were targeted in a "muscle profiling" investigation. They faced steroid conspiracy charges even though they were little more than users.

Similarly in Texas, Operation Pharmacia Juicy Fruit resulted in dozens of arrests of bodybuilders involving steroid possession that were trumped up to conspiracy to distribute.

Granted, the war on drugs has been a terrible failure. The chances of most drug users getting caught are low. For steroids, even lower.

Still, it's not a time to minimize legal risks. Better to be paranoid.

 

[Dr JIM]

Agreed Millard due diligence is very important but all the interdictions you have listed are attempts at diminishing AAS sales and many were damn fools with blatant disregard for "existing law" such as Balco and Barry Bonds, the Oklahoma arrest occurrd because one cop whom, I knew personally from high school, was selling AAS using BB as mules. I suspect if you critically evaluate almost all of these investigations LE only became interested "once slapped on the face"!