It seems like the market and sometimes there is even a discount. Too bad it’s all absolutely illegal. Yet drug dealing through messaging apps, primarily, is now a widespread phenomenon in Bergamo and its province Telegram: so much so that there are several groups dedicated to our city and our territory, where drug dealers evidently from the area use this virtual showcase to offer different types of drugs.
Not only. Once the purchase has been agreed and the payment has been made – strictly with the infamous bitcoins or with the Paypal system (but only with the “family and friends” option, the one which does not require the sending of invoices), the drugs can be delivered directly to domicile, or in an agreed point which in jargon is called «meet up». What is worrying is the fact that some of these Bergamo groups also have hundreds of members. What is heartening, however, is the fact that the phenomenon is certainly not escaping the postal police.
The explanations – at times surreal – of how the payment takes place
Even if it is not easy to shed light on what is behind it because these chats are organized like the famous Chinese boxes which, moving from the virtual to the concrete, are a bit reminiscent of those companies created ad hoc to evade taxes: matryoshka dolls, precisely, where no you never understand what’s inside and who’s in charge. The pushers certainly seem at ease on the apps: in a group with around seventy members dedicated exclusively to hashish dealing in Bergamo there is no shortage of promotional videos, if we want to call them that. And the offerings too: a “mango lemon kush”, a type of marijuana, is offered at 45 euros for five grams, but if you buy one ounce the cost is “only” 550 euros. To order it you must then send a private message to the indicated user, who in this case always seems to be the same person, at least according to the nickname.
The types of drugs with logos to indicate their availability
Five grams of “dry seeds” are sold for 35 euros, one gram for 370: but “from today until Tuesday”, reads a sort of promotional message, “meet up from 12 to 00, at the beginning of the day 10 grams of seeds dry for 60 euros”. At the top of the chats there is a “pinned message” with the “hashish menu” and information on the types and quantities of available products, complete with a symbolic legend: “available”, “sold out”, “almost sold out” and “coming soon”.
In short, nothing to envy of any online product sales app. It’s a shame that behind this organization there are drug dealing and drug trafficking, as well as organized crime. In another chat it is specified that the “price depends on the distance” of the delivery and that, by sending a message to the pusher, you will be informed of the “meet up” locations, or delivery in the Bergamo area, or of the “meet up” services.delivery», where however it is necessary to buy a minimum quantity of 10 grams of drug. Delivery – it is explained – takes place within 24 hours. For the rest it works exactly like food delivery services. And it’s shocking to see how easy it has become to buy hashish, cocaine and other types of drugs. With the risk of falling into some criminal ring, even if, it is specified in another group from Bergamo, “trust is our priority”.
“Trust is our priority” the pushers write in the chat
In a further group it is explained that shipping can also take place via express courier (and the names of three well-known companies in the sector are indicated) or with delivery to the relevant lockers. The pusher explains – actually quite annoyed – why he doesn’t accept cash on delivery: “When I send I use a fake sender for security/privacy reasons”, he specifies. Then he breaks it down: «So if I send products worth 600 euros in cash on delivery and you are not present to collect them, the package will be stored for 30 days, therefore lost. And I will have lost the products shipped, and therefore the money too.” And he concludes: «With these premises you also understand that the mark in this profession is a utopia». His phrase would almost make you smile if we weren’t talking about drug dealing, in another chat he defined it as something “not exactly legal”.
Other messages with details for the deal
In short, anyone who thought that online drug dealing was exclusive to the dark web must think again when faced with this “dealing 4.0” which exploits the most popular messaging apps and which takes place, at least apparently, in broad daylight. And complete with user reviews, just like it was Tripadvisor. In one of the national drug dealing channels who, again on Telegram, presents himself as specializing in Colombian cocaine, it is also possible to read hundreds of reviews: “I have purchased from him several times and he has always proven to be a serious person.” This is followed by ratings for communication, packaging, flavor, scent and buzz. In short, a sort of «4 Restaurants» or «4 Hotels», but with drugs. With the hope that the famous “final vote that can confirm or overturn” will be given by the police.
