Inside the illicit drug trade where dealers are using Ubers and encrypted messaging apps
Rideshare drivers are unwittingly being used as mules to courier cocaine, marijuana and other drugs across Victoria in a concerning dial-a-drug trend.
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Illegal drugs are being bought online in seconds and home delivered in an alarming escalation of the illicit trade.
Classified ad websites are offering cocaine, magic mushrooms and other drugs and, with a few clicks, users are being connected to a dealer who then arranges delivery.
In a matter of moments, the Sunday Herald Sun was able to see a menu for drugs on the website, was connected to a dealer on an encrypted app and then asked for an address to which drugs could be delivered.
The alarming dial-a-drug trend – which often involves rideshare drivers unknowingly becoming mules to deliver the deadly substances – has sparked fears that teenagers can secretly buy drugs with more ease than ever before.
Messages seen by the Sunday Herald Sun show that within minutes, drug dealers are selling everything from marijuana to heroin and organising for it to be delivered to the purchaser’s door.
Drug dealers have placed hundreds of ads on classifieds websites, where the dealers post ads purporting to sell household items to evade authorities.
But the listings contain images with contact details for drugs dealers, luring buyers to contact them discreetly via encrypted messaging apps, including Wickr.
Screenshots of conversations between drug dealers and buyers on Wickr seen by the Sunday Herald Sun show dealers bombarding buyers with messages including images of price lists showing various drugs for sale.
The messages also show the dealers offering to personally deliver the drugs themselves to the buyer’s door or via a ride-share service.
It comes as Victoria Police have made several arrests in recent months involving drug dealers using ride-share services to transport drugs.
In one case, a driver became suspicious after being called to the same address almost daily over a three-week period in Stonnington.
Every booking at the address was to transport packages, never passengers.
The driver was called to the same address and was greeted by a man who was speaking to someone on the phone. As the driver was handed a bag to transport, he overheard the man on the phone tell someone repeatedly to “check the pockets carefully”.
The driver left the address and checked the pockets, locating several snap lock bags containing white powder which he took straight to Malvern Police Station.
Stonnington Crime Investigation Unit detectives seized several items including what is alleged to be cocaine, cannabis, magic mushrooms and cash.
Two 21-year-old men were with drug related offences and bailed to appear in court.
In another incident, an Uber driver alerted police to suspicious activity on the Mornington Peninsula.
During the ongoing investigation police seized a large quantity of methylamphetamine, a taser and over $14,000 cash suspected of being the proceeds of crime.
The Frankston man was charged with several offences and remanded to appear at court.
An Uber driver, 30, from Melbourne’s southeast, told the Sunday Herald Sun he had intercepted packages believed to be containing illicit drugs.
“This was particularly on the rise during the lockdowns,” he said.
“If I become suspicious, I will report it to police without risking my own safety.
“Drivers become aware when they are sent to the same address often to deliver small packages – it is very risky.”
Dr James Martin, Senior Lecturer in criminology at Deakin University, whose research specialises in the online illicit drugs trade, said the latest tactics used by drug dealers was “concerning”.
“It’s not surprising that we’re seeing drug supply taking place through various kinds of online technologies,” Dr Martin said.
“There’s no regulation around who you sell to, which really speaks to the need of having a conversation about regulation and legislation about drugs including Cannabis.”
Dr Martin said there had been changes in drug using habits since the pandemic.
“We’ve seen increases in the kinds of drugs people like to use when they’re at home including cannabis – usage has gone up, at the same time we’ve seen use of stimulants that people like to use at parties such as MDMA go down.
“The lockdowns are over and people are starting to go out again and we would expect drug usage patterns to go back to what they were previously.”
Naomi Oakley, who runs U-Nome Security and has been in the industry for more than 20 years, said she was aware of teens buying drugs online.
“Accessibility to social media is what’s driving this, when we’re doing a pre-party risk assessment, what I do is inform the parents about the risks,” she said.
“During our screening process at parties, we’ve even had to call ambulances when teens have had drugs prior to an event.
“It’s definitely concerning and this is why private security is always recommended at parties.”
Victoria Police investigates drug dealing and has the ability to refer websites that are advertising criminal activity onto the relevant federal authorities.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said police were aware of illicit activity occurring across online platforms and within the gig economy.
“The supply of illicit drugs online and via social media is an evolving part of modern policing,” the spokeswoman said.
“We will continue to investigate, and charge people engaged in unlawful online activity, including the supply of illicit drugs.
“Police work tirelessly to reduce the supply of drugs in Victoria.”
The spokeswoman said police continued to target drugs that contribute to the most harm in the community.
“This includes work on a localised level with Divisional Response Units and Crime Investigation Units, right up to the state and international level with Victoria Police’s Drug Taskforce and the Melbourne-based Joint Organised Crime Task Force (JOCTF) led by the AFP and including Victoria Police, Australian Border Force and the Australian Crime Intelligence Commission.”
A spokeswoman from Australian Federal Police said: “The AFP is watchful of emerging methodologies that organise crime seek to exploit to traffic illicit commodities within Australia, including rideshare, informal courier services and open source advertisement.”
“The AFP works closely with its state and territory partners to combat these vulnerabilities,” the spokeswoman said.
An UBER spokeswoman said: “Any illegal activity while using the Uber app is unacceptable and can result in the immediate loss of access to the Uber app”.
“Our dedicated Law Enforcement Response Team, which includes former Australian police officers, is on hand to assist police in their investigation into any such matter,” the spokeswoman said.
ChaosAds has been contacted for comment.
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