Posted: Tue 27th Sep 2022

North Wales criminals using a ‘dodgy eBay-type service’ on the dark web to trade drugs and firearms

News and Info from Deeside, Flintshire, North Wales
This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Sep 27th, 2022

Description of your image

Sophisticated criminals in North Wales are using a ‘dodgy eBay-type service’ on the dark web to trade drugs and firearms. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Sellers are even rated on their service, how well the illegal item was packaged and how undetectable it was. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The underworld activity came to light at a meeting of the North Wales Police and Crime Panel. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Crime commissioner Andy Dunbobbin said the tactics used by criminals to trade drugs and firearms were ‘scary’. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The panel met at Conwy’s Bodlondeb council chamber where Wrexham councillor Nigel Williams asked Mr Dunbobbin how North Wales Police was tackling cyber crime after a graph showed a rising trajectory between November 2021 and March 2022. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Mr Dunbobbin said the police’s regional organised crime unit had uncovered a ‘scary’ level of sophistication of criminals operating on the dark web. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The majority of that piece of work is going on with the regional organised crime unit (ROCU), said Mr Dunbobbin. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“I’ve been there (offices) a couple of times, and it is really difficult because they (the criminals) are filtering money off here, there, and everywhere through all sorts of different servers, in different countries.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

He added: “It’s really quite scary what’s going on there, regarding drugs, firearms, all sorts of things being sold on what can only be described as a really dodgy eBay [type] site, so much so that they (customers/criminals) even score the suppliers out of five on how well it was packaged and how undetectable it was. It is astounding, the lengths that they go to.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Mr Dunbobbin added: “We all know cyber crime is the fastest crime in the world. Even now with the cost-of-living crisis, I’ve received text messages pretending they are the Government and offering some sort of refund, asking me to click on this link.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“There is maybe some people of a certain age who might be quite vulnerable, who would be quite tempted to do that, but what I am pleased to see is the work we are doing with the commission service, Get Safe Online, and how much value they’ve brought into the force, the cyber team, and how much engagement they are doing as well. I think it is a really strong offer that we are providing.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Richard Evans – Local Democracy Reporter (more here). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​


Spotted something? Got a story? Send a Facebook Message | A direct message on Twitter | Email: News@Deeside.com

Latest News

  • Welsh Conservatives table no confidence motion in Health Minister Eluned Morgan
  • Caffi Isa receives £10,000 grant for improv project that supports young people who feel isolated
  • Cost of some everyday groceries has more than doubled in a year, Which? finds

  • More...

    Welsh Conservatives table no confidence motion in Health Minister Eluned Morgan

    News

    Caffi Isa receives £10,000 grant for improv project that supports young people who feel isolated

    News

    Cost of some everyday groceries has more than doubled in a year, Which? finds

    News

    University of Chester leads the way in Whatuni Student Choice Awards nominations in a bumper year

    News

    Farmers’ Union concern over Welsh Government’s statutory licensing for accommodation providers

    News

    Independent Living Skills learners enjoy team-building day at Northop college campus

    News