Corruption among the police and administrative divisions as well as a lack of human resources render it difficult to ensure territorial security. Calls from representatives of Republika of Srpska to secede from Bosnia and Herzegovina and unify with Serbia pose a significant threat to the country’s internal stability and territorial integrity. Bosnia and Herzegovina lacks the necessary legal framework, mechanisms and strategies to combat cybercrime or to detect cyber-attacks that are threatening the cyberspace of the country. The existence and operations of dark web markets underscore a growing challenge for cybersecurity. The tools and techniques used to keep these platforms running reveal vulnerabilities that businesses must guard against. Companies today face constant threats of data theft, intellectual property leaks, and other dangers that originate from the dark web.
How Is The Darknet Different From The Deep Web?
- Anyone considering engaging with these platforms must carefully evaluate potential consequences, exercise stringent security practices, and remain vigilant to minimize exposure to these significant hazards.
- A 2020 study found that almost 57% of sites on the Tor network hosted some form of illegal content.
- Launched in 2021, Abacus Market caters primarily to English-speaking users.
- It enhances buyer transparency by importing vendor feedback with PGP proof.
- They were following the money trail, and analyzed digital forensic evidence, allowing them to determine key players and important locations.
- In this system, cryptocurrency is held by a trusted third party until the buyer receives the product or service as described.
This early detection allows organizations to identify and respond to threats quickly, reducing the chances of unauthorized access, financial loss, or damage to brand reputation. The market is known for its extensive product listings and reputation system that helps buyers evaluate the reliability of vendors. The platform is favored by cybercriminals seeking access to accounts that can be exploited for fraud or sold to others. The marketplace requires merchants to pay fees to sell their products, helping ensure a certain level of quality control.
There are initiatives in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Brčko District to initiate amendments in legislation to create specialized units that would focus solely on collecting evidence for financial investigations. Historically, there have been few investigations, indictments and sentences related to money laundering. For example, between 2012 and 2016, seven prosecutor’s offices did not receive reports of money laundering and did not initiate independent investigations. However, the reporting of money laundering cases from law enforcement agencies to prosecutor’s offices increased in the following years. The FID has expressed the need to improve cooperation with the supervisory bodies under the law on prevention of ML/TF in order to enhance the quality of reporting of suspicious transactions to the FID.
To access the marketplace, dark web users must register first and pass the CAPTCHA test to prove they are human. The site allows users to find and buy a vast variety of products and services. It’s known for its strong security features (like a trusted escrow system, PGP two-factor authentication) and anonymity. It has a search option to let you find local and international products and services on the dark web.
Country Profiles
This year, the prosecutor’s office in Bosnia and Herzegovina has charged 13 individuals with illegal tobacco and cigarette trade. Three of these individuals are members of the Bosnian border police, as reported by RSE. The most common countries from where cigarettes and tobacco are smuggled into Bosnia and Herzegovina are Montenegro, Serbia, and Albania. According to the Indirect Taxation Authority (ITA), Bosnia and Herzegovina is a transit country on the international smuggling route to European Union (EU) member states.
The heroin market and heroin prices have remained stable because of low levels of seizures by law enforcement, which is a result of corruption and the fragmentation of police forces. New patterns of heroin smuggling from the Netherlands to Bosnia and Herzegovina suggest an increased demand for heroin in the country. As the cocaine market is less pervasive than the markets for other drugs in the country, Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to be predominantly a transit route for the drug coming from Montenegro and passing towards the EU. There is an increasing involvement of criminal organizations in the cocaine market, especially Eastern Balkan organized crime groups. Darknets and dark markets have propelled the growth of cybercrime by offering a platform for the sale and exchange of malicious tools and services. Cybercriminals use these platforms to traffic in stolen data, execute targeted ransomware attacks, and collaborate on advanced hacking techniques.
Secure Your Cryptocurrency Transactions
Many users find themselves cheated by false listings or fake vendors, losing their assets without recourse. Transactions on these platforms use an escrow system, where funds are held by the marketplace until the buyer confirms receipt of the goods. This layer of trust, though among criminals, helps ensure a safer exchange and mitigates risks of fraud. Emerging trends shaping darknet marketplaces in 2025—insights into cryptocurrency trading and security. The top performers in darknet marketplaces for 2025, excelling in trade volume, vendor ratings, and market influence. Unlike many other dark web markets, Cypher does not require buyers to deposit cryptocurrency upfront, which reduces the risk of exit scams.
Abacus Market (Best For Cryptocurrency Transactions)
Bosnian men are often victims of forced labour in the construction industry in Balkan and other European countries, and Bosnian women and girls are sex trafficked in private residences within the country. Moreover, victims from Afghanistan, Cuba, Gambia, Libya, Serbia, Sri Lanka, and neighbouring Balkan countries have been exploited in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Child trafficking continues to be a significant issue in the country with Roma and other children being forced into begging, sex trafficking, and exploitation in forced marriages for the purpose of domestic servitude. The degree to which states are able to control their physical and cyber territory and infrastructure against organized criminal activities. The state’s ability to investigate, gather intelligence, protect and enforce adherence to its rules and procedures against organized crime. In recent years, the Brcko District in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been the scene of a number of incidents concerning smuggling of migrants, weapons and drugs.
Torzon Market
It scans darknet marketplaces and hacker forums to alert you instantly if anything shows up. This way, you can catch any leaks and stop them before they cause bigger problems. And, of course, think twice before sharing too much personal details online. That all is for general internet activities, you can guess how crucial having a VPN is when you hop onto something like the dark web. They’re tightening security and carefully screening anyone who wants to join. This vetting process helps keep the community “clean” from spies, law enforcement, or anyone who might pose a risk.
Order Process
Poor collaboration between cantonal and federal, as well as with state agencies in joint actions on countering crime, not to mention a lack of data sharing, gives space for criminals to operate. Payments are made with digital money, which helps protect the identity of both the buyer and the seller. This use of cryptocurrency makes transactions fast and secure, and it supports the overall goal of privacy on the dark web. The key differences between dark web markets and regular online stores are clear. Regular stores are public, with visible ads and a standard payment process.
Next up is Abacus, another newer market that has already made a massive name for itself, especially following AlphaBay’s closure. It contains 40,000+ listings for illegal products (mostly) and is worth an estimated $15 million, so it’s one of the largest markets out there. The marketplace supports multiple payment methods, including Bitcoin (BTC), Litecoin (LTC), and Cryptocheck. They add new batches of stolen data every other week, and there’s even a bidding system where buyers can place offers on new data batches as soon as they become available. Just as there are new entrants, the dark web has its veteran markets too, and Brian’s Club is one such market. It has been in operation for more than a decade since its debut in 2014.
They suffer losses such as identity theft, financial loss, and emotional distress due to damage to their personal and professional lives. They really don’t care about the loss and dilemma of the victims whose data has been stolen. These markets are dangerous anyway and shouldn’t be accessed even if they’ve onion addresses.
Established in 2019, Russian Market is a well-known and highly regarded data store on the dark web, specializing in the sale of PII and various forms of stolen data. Despite its name, the marketplace operates primarily in English and serves a global audience. It has gained a reputation for being a reliable source of high-quality data for cybercriminals. Immediately change your passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and notify your bank or credit card provider if the leaked information includes your financial data.
In this article, you’ll find detailed overviews of the top ten Dark-Web marketplaces currently dominating the hidden internet landscape in 2025. We’ll explore their unique features, common use-cases—both legitimate and illicit—and the significant risks users face when interacting with these platforms. Both mafia-style groups, criminal networks, state-embedded actors and foreign criminal groups have a presence in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mafia-style groups are heavily involved in drugs, particularly heroin, and arms trafficking. A number of Bosnian mafia-style groups operate in various European countries and Bosnian criminals play important roles in the underworlds of these countries.
