How can illegal transactions via the "dark web" take place without police awareness or involvement?

[astro]

@Thylacine

I do wonder why our cops don’t seem to care about the very open dealing and prostitution on the local craigslist platform but know plenty of folks who use it to both buy and sell and never hear of any arrests - a few people have been stupid and wound up with rock salt or a wad of foil or sent money overseas and had no one show up at the meeting but that happens in the drug world anyway without the internet in between.

I have never quite understood the need for the darkweb but I gather police officers in other jurisdictions are a tad more proactive than our Australian versions.

I am pretty sure even cops can figure out what ads for OXYgen, 420, cold puff, eXcellent dancing are shifting - the codes aren’t even subtle.

A few years ago local Ocean City Maryland police did make some arrests via Craigslist ads for escorts that would be “passing through” the Ocean City MD resort area and were booking dates in advance. Don’t know if they are still going after them these days. All things considered I have to slightly admire prostitutes with enough marketing savvy they are booking dates weeks or months in advance.