Markets enabled people living in one region to trade goods produced in another region. In the case of food items this allowed residents of the “hot lands” (tierra caliente) to gain access to food items coming from the “temperate lands” (tierra templada). The map shows the market day for major markets, and the major weekly marketing cycles, in the area around the city of Oaxaca. With the exception of Oaxaca city (population 480,000) and Miahuatlán (33,000), all the other towns have populations between 13,000 and 20,000. The merchants at such markets generally carry their wares from village to village on the days of their respective markets. At the same time, these markets give consumers access to a much wider range of goods than would otherwise be possible.
However, most of the sellers we dealt with seemed readily aware of the strict regulations in Mexico and did not question us about these regulations. TGC-RC Chemicals, for example, offered the option to ship their product to multiple addresses for an extra fee. The seller followed with a link that took us to a product listing where they sold lab equipment kits. Suspicious these overzealous vendors were laying a trap of some sort, we stopped communicating with them. Some followed these up with phone numbers and messaging application usernames.
The Sellers
Daniel Traverso, Vice President of Anasac International Corporation and Director of Anasac Colombia and Mexico, Ltd., says that the black market is Mexico is a huge problem. “The problem is that the authorities do not invest the necessary resources to provide efficient control, so people deal with illegal products at low prices, so it is sometime not easy to compete there,” says Traverso. In fact, there is plenty of evidence that Mexican drug cartels procure many of their weapons from the United States. Snopes readers also asked via email whether Ukraine sold American weapons on the black market or to various militant or criminal groups, including Hamas, Syrian rebel groups and Mexican drug cartels. “Being part of the largest telecommunications infrastructure project in Mexico is both a responsibility and an honor,” said Chris Cooper, President of FTF. “Our growing tower network and expansive dark fiber network, coupled with our infrastructure expertise, position us to contribute meaningfully to Mexico’s digital future.”
Other Things To Do In Mexico City
Yet, the challenges to eliminate this criminal branch of the economy are substantial. Deep-rooted corruption, massive financial incentives and entrenched cartel influence make meaningful enforcement elusive. The government imposes a fluctuating tax on fuel imports — known as IEPS — which rises when international fuel prices fall, and drops when global prices go up. While the tax helps stabilize consumer prices and generates revenue, recent trends have made smuggling more profitable. This day trip to San Miguel de Allende from Mexico City is ideal for those who want to explore one of Mexico’s main colonial cities and its colorful architecture. After getting to know the city, you’ll also get free time to stroll the colorful streets, visit cafes and shops, and explore the plazas on your own.
The Security Validation Event Of The Year: The Picus BAS Summit
Investing in threat intelligence services can help by keeping an eye on potential risks and providing insights into new threats. This report does a great job of breaking everything down into manageable chunks. The numbers are exactly what we asked for and what we need to build our business case. The Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Market size was valued at USD 42 billion in 2024 and is anticipated to reach USD 54.88 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 3.4% during the forecast period.
Markets Face Pressure Ahead Of COF Report
One of the earliest and most notorious dark web marketplaces was the Silk Road, which paired the darknet with Bitcoin for anonymous transactions. Its success set the standard for other marketplaces to follow, leading to the rise of a vast and shadowy underground economy. As these marketplaces evolved, so did the challenges for security professionals, who now face a constant battle to keep up with ever-changing tactics used by criminals.
Increasing Collaboration Between Public And Private Sectors
The Mexican government currently lacks an effective system to trace the origin of fuel sold at service stations, making detection of fraud even harder. Alejandro Montufar, director of PETROIntelligence, said many of Mexico’s gas stations are small, family-owned businesses without the expertise or resources to verify their fuel’s origins. Pipelines to carry gas from Texas to Mexico are laid underground near General Bravo, Nuevo Leon state, Mexico, Sept. 7, 2014. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said in 2019 that he shut down some pipelines to stop fuel thieves who he says have established an illegal distribution network. Onboard, you’ll have access to limitless beer, tequila, and mezcal, and have the chance to master the art of preparing fresh guacamole, perfect for pairing with crispy tortilla chips. This tour is perfect for foodies who want to experience the mezcal and the best tacos in Mexico City.
There are many initiatives and programs aimed at teaching the public about the risks and how to stay safe, such as cybersecurity workshops and online courses designed to educate and inform. These efforts help folks learn how to secure their personal information, recognize suspicious activity, and take preventative measures. Undercover operations are also vital for these operations, with agents posing as buyers or sellers to infiltrate these markets.
Mexico-based Marketplaces Claiming To Be Dedicated Online Portals For Notorious Criminal Cartels On The Dark Web
Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. For more than fifteen years, aid to Mexico has typically been designated for strengthening the rule of law and countering criminal organizations, with questionable effectiveness. Most recently, the United States and Mexico’s 2021 Bicentennial Framework expanded the countries’ cooperation on these efforts and recognized that criminal organizations posed a problem to both countries. Due to these missing elements, the Government Accountability Office argued that determining whether US assistance was achieving Washington’s goals is impossible. Estimates of cartel membership suggest that such groups would rank as the fourth-largest employer compared to public companies in Mexico.
Incognito Enhances Security
By clicking submit below, you consent to allow MarketResearch.com, LLC to store and process the personal information submitted above to provide you the content requested. The primary function of a report license is to define how many people within a company are authorized to use the purchased report. Unless specifically identified otherwise, the purchase option is Single User. Below is a helpful description of that license, along with a sampling of others most commonly offered. The recent US strike on a suspected drug trafficking boat is best understood in the context of the Trump administration’s policies toward Venezuela and the wider Western Hemisphere. Yet, based on the sheer size and pervasiveness of these organizations, as well as their international reach, it is unlikely that Mexico will be able to dismantle these organizations unilaterally.
Security professionals express serious concerns about this marketplace due to its unique features and extensive range of illegal offerings. Known for its encrypted communication channels and user-friendly interface, Torzon has attracted a substantial community of buyers and sellers seeking anonymity in their transactions. The market’s growth has raised eyebrows among cybersecurity experts, who fear its potential to facilitate illegal activities on a large scale. The magnitude of illegal trade on these marketplaces is astounding, with transactions reaching millions of dollars.
Archetyp launched in May 2020 and quickly grew to become one of the most popular dark web markets with an estimated total transaction volume of €250 million (A$446 million). It had more than 600,000 users worldwide and 17,000 listings consisting mainly of illicit drugs including MDMA, cocaine and methamphetamine. Your definitive guide to the top darknet marketplaces of 2025—featuring verified onion routing links, cryptocurrency trading insights, vendor ratings, and escrow security details. Dive into the dark pool trading world with Abacus, Alphabay, Torrez, and more.
Here, you’ll find links to various resources, including educational archives, private forums, anonymous services, and more. As the internet became more accessible in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, illicit trade began to take advantage of this new anonymous space. The development of tools such as Tor, a privacy-focused browser, and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin provided the necessary anonymity and secure means of transaction that were previously lacking.
- The idea that growers might be looking for solutions is one theory, but also, there is the cost savings of black-market products.
- Many of these markets have been around since 2020 but have seen a sudden spike in activity lately due to the closure of large decentralized drug-focused markets where these alleged cartel site operators claimed to be successful vendors.
- Compared to its predecessors, Archetyp enforced enhanced security expectations from its users.
- Among the array of tools available, advanced technology and international cooperation are key players in this ongoing battle.
Businesses, from small farming operations to large corporations, have seemingly acknowledged and accepted extortion as a cost of doing business. Another drug vendor we observed in 2019 who is still active now almost exclusively engages in ‘direct dealing’ as a seller. These sellers will advertise themselves on discussion forums and appear limitedly on marketplaces only to establish alternative secure communication methods. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has promised to tackle fuel smuggling aggressively, particularly under pressure from President Trump. His administration is concerned that the money made from the black market for gasoline is fueling drug cartels in Mexico that produce and distribute fentanyl.
In the case of MicroDroper and TGC-RC Chemicals, for example, they appear to have a very similar bear logo. Many of them also had similar company descriptions, some of which seemed to have been badly translated from the literal Chinese. Tor is a browser that allows for anonymous communication and it is the most common form of accessing the dark web. Once open, we did a series of searches with the word “fentanyl.” Eventually, one of them popped up with a product identification number.
International coalitions are necessary for the security of Mexico and neighboring and impacted countries. But without clear accountability mechanisms and metrics of success, coalitions will fall short of their aims, lose support, and further entrench the crisis. Countering these groups will take far more than fighting them with security forces; Mexican officials will need to restore trust across institutions and ensure they remain resilient to illicit influence. This is the second in a series of explainers about the interconnectedness of criminal markets in Latin America and the Caribbean, written by the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center. To get notified about future editions and other related work on the region, sign up here. The contact information for the Los Urabenos marketplace references an encrypted chat application account for CDG cartel, which likely refers to the cartel’s more recent designation, Clan del Golfo (Gulf Cartel).
