STRASBOURG: Law enforcement agencies worldwide are adapting their strategies to combat drug cartels increasingly utilizing online video games as a discreet marketplace for drug transactions and recruitment.
The Council of Europe’s Pompidou Group, specializing in international drug issues, hosted a forum in Mexico City on December 19 and 20 to address the rising concern and shed light on the intersection of virtual gaming and illicit activities.
Benjamin Shultz, a foreign malign influence analyst at Deloitte, emphasized the tech-savvy nature of drug cartels, citing examples such as the Sinaloa Cartel’s Twitter account, which boasted nearly 200,000 followers before being shut down. The forum aimed to draw attention to the role of online gaming in facilitating the drug trade, particularly through popular titles like “Grand Theft Auto” and “World of Warcraft.”
Shultz highlighted that online games provide ideal cover for cartels, allowing discreet drug sales and recruitment. The darknet, once a popular platform, has decreased in favor among cartels due to increased law enforcement presence. Online games offer untapped resources and limited monitoring, allowing cartels to connect with potential recruits or customers with greater anonymity.
Misuse of Online Video Game for Drugs
The internal messaging systems within these games are challenging to intercept, especially when traffickers communicate using emoticons or emojis. Symbolic conversations enable cartels to avoid using explicit language that could attract attention. For example, the electric plug emoji may signify a “dealer,” a small palm tree could represent “marijuana,” and a key might stand for “cocaine.”
Early cases, such as one involving three adolescents aged 11 to 14 recruited while playing “Garena Free Fire,” prompted Mexican authorities to take note. The recruits were offered $200 a week to act as lookouts in Mexico City.
Despite such cases being more common in the vicinity of the US-Mexico border, experts like Shultz warn that the issue could be quietly proliferating in Europe, where video games remain largely unregulated and unmonitored.
Thomas Kattau, deputy executive secretary of the Council of Europe’s Pompidou Group, emphasized the global nature of the issue, with Mexico taking the lead in bringing it to the attention of law enforcement. Kattau noted similar occurrences in the UK and other countries, indicating that the phenomenon is not isolated but rapidly spreading.
