I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7300 
To prohibit the delivery of opioids by means of the dark web, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 30, 2022 
Mr. PAPPAS (for himself and Mr. TONY GONZALES of Texas) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and 
in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Financial 
Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To prohibit the delivery of opioids by means of the dark 
web, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Dark Web Interdiction 
Act of 2022’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
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(1) The dark web is made up of websites and 
other network services that leverage overlay net-
works providing anonymity. These overlay networks 
use the internet but require specific software and 
configurations to access. The overlay networks use 
multiple encrypted traffic relays for which an indi-
vidual relay computer knows its source of informa-
tion and where the individual computer is sending 
the information but never knows both the original 
source and ultimate destination of the traffic simul-
taneously. This anonymity has provided criminals 
with the ability to host illicit material in a way that 
circumvents the ability of law enforcement agencies 
to serve legal process to remove or effectively inves-
tigate websites offering illegal content or goods for 
purchase or sharing. 
(2) Dark web marketplaces include e-commerce 
websites based on the dark web on which individuals 
use virtual currencies to engage in transactions in-
volving drugs, weapons, malware, counterfeit cur-
rency, stolen credit cards, personal identifying infor-
mation, forged documents, unlicensed pharma-
ceuticals, and other illicit goods. 
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(3) Due to the anonymity provided by the dark 
web, illicit activities can be hosted from anywhere in 
the world without accountability to— 
(A) the Federal Government; 
(B) Federal laws; or 
(C) any other government or system of 
laws. 
(4) The use of the dark web to distribute illegal 
drugs has contributed and continues to contribute to 
the substance abuse crisis that is devastating com-
munities across the United States. This devastation 
is due in large part to the fact that the dark web 
has made illicit goods obtainable anonymously. 
(5) Law enforcement agencies at every level of 
government continue to investigate drug trafficking 
and the sale of illegal goods and services through the 
dark web that occurs as a result of interactions on 
the dark web, both within the United States and at 
the international border of the United States, but 
the increased anonymity the internet provides has 
made it more difficult to identify and prosecute the 
individuals and organizations who— 
(A) 
administer 
or 
otherwise 
operate 
websites on the dark web that facilitate the dis-
tribution of illegal drugs, goods, or services; or 
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(B) buy and sell illegal drugs, goods, or 
services through illicit marketplaces hosted on 
the dark web. 
(6) Despite difficulties in identifying and locat-
ing individuals and organizations who engage in 
drug trafficking on the dark web, law enforcement 
agencies have been effective in investigating and 
prosecuting the distribution of illegal drugs through 
illicit marketplaces on the dark web, as evidenced by 
Operation DisrupTor, which— 
(A) was announced in September 2020; 
(B) resulted in— 
(i) 179 arrests worldwide, including 
121 arrests in the United States; 
(ii) the seizure of approximately 500 
kilograms of drugs worldwide, including 
274 kilograms of drugs in the United 
States; and 
(iii) 
the 
seizure 
of 
more 
than 
$6,500,000 worth of virtual currencies and 
cash; and 
(C) is an example of one of many cases 
conducted jointly by— 
(i) the Federal Bureau of Investiga-
tion; 
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(ii) the Drug Enforcement Adminis-
tration; 
(iii) Immigration and Customs En-
forcement; 
(iv) Homeland Security Investigations; 
(v) United States Customs and Bor-
der Protection; 
(vi) the United States Postal Inspec-
tion Service; 
(vii) the Financial Crimes Enforce-
ment Network; 
(viii) the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, 
Firearms and Explosives; 
(ix) the Naval Criminal Investigative 
Service; 
(x) the Department of Justice; 
(xi) the Department of Defense; and 
(xii) additional local, State, and inter-
national law enforcement partners. 
(7) Although law enforcement agencies have 
succeeded in investigating the distribution and sale 
of illegal drugs, goods, and services that occurs as 
a result of interactions on the dark web, investiga-
tive and prosecutorial collaboration, innovation, and 
advancement are critical to— 
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(A) increasing the capacity to combat the 
threat posed by the dark web and the illicit 
marketplaces hosted on the dark web; and 
(B) enhancing collaboration and coordina-
tion among Federal, State, Tribal, local, inter-
national and other law enforcement partners, as 
appropriate. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) the dark web and illicit marketplaces hosted 
on the dark web facilitate the distribution of illegal 
drugs and pose a unique threat to the public health 
and national security in the United States; and 
(2) Congress should— 
(A) support law enforcement agencies and 
prosecutors at the Federal, State, Tribal, local, 
and international levels in their efforts to inves-
tigate and prosecute the distribution of illegal 
drugs, goods, and services through the dark 
web; and 
(B) increase the investigative and prosecu-
torial tools available to law enforcement agen-
cies and prosecutors to address the distribution 
of illegal drugs, goods, and services through the 
dark web. 
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SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) DARK WEB.—The term ‘‘dark web’’ has the 
meaning given the term in subsection (i) of section 
401 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 
841), as added by section 4 of this Act. 
(2) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the task force. 
(3) ILLICIT MARKETPLACE.—The term ‘‘illicit 
marketplace’’ means a website on the dark web on 
which individuals can use virtual currency to engage 
in transactions involving drugs, weapons, malware, 
counterfeit currency, stolen credit cards, personal 
identifying information, forged documents, or other 
illicit goods. 
(4) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 
has the meaning given the term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ in 
section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Edu-
cation Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
(5) OPIOID.—The term ‘‘opioid’’ has the mean-
ing given the term in section 102 of the Controlled 
Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802). 
(6) TASK
FORCE.—The term ‘‘task force’’ 
means the Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet En-
forcement Task Force established under section 
5(a)(1). 
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SEC. 4. OFFENSES INVOLVING THE DARK WEB. 
Section 401 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 
U.S.C. 841) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(i) OFFENSES INVOLVING DISPENSING
OF CON-
TROLLED SUBSTANCES BY MEANS OF THE DARK WEB.— 
‘‘(1) DEFINITION OF DARK WEB.—In this sub-
section, the term ‘dark web’ means a portion of the 
internet in which there are hidden sites and services 
that— 
‘‘(A) are not indexed by an internet search 
engine; and 
‘‘(B) are only accessible to users of specific 
devices, software, routing and anonymizing 
services, authorizations, or configurations that 
conceal the identities and locations of users. 
‘‘(2) OFFENSE.—It shall be unlawful for any 
person to knowingly or intentionally— 
‘‘(A) deliver, distribute, or dispense a con-
trolled substance by means of the dark web, ex-
cept as authorized by this title; or 
‘‘(B) aid or abet (as such terms are used 
in section 2, title 18, United States Code) any 
activity described in subparagraph (A) that is 
not authorized by this title. 
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‘‘(3) PENALTY.—Pursuant to its authority 
under section 994 of title 28, United States Code, 
the United States Sentencing Commission shall 
amend the Federal sentencing guidelines and policy 
statements to provide for a 2-level increase above the 
sentence otherwise applicable for a violation of para-
graph (2).’’. 
SEC. 5. JOINT CRIMINAL OPIOID AND DARKNET ENFORCE-
MENT TASK FORCE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established in the 
Federal Bureau of Investigation an interagency pro-
gram that shall be known as the Joint Criminal 
Opioid and Darknet Enforcement Task Force. 
(2) DIRECTOR.—The task force shall be headed 
by a Director, who shall be appointed by the Presi-
dent, by and with the advice and consent of the Sen-
ate. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the task force shall 
be to detect, disrupt, and dismantle illicit marketplaces. 
(c) COMPONENTS.— 
(1) REPRESENTATIVES.—The task force shall 
include representatives from— 
(A) the Federal Bureau of Investigation; 
(B) the Drug Enforcement Administration; 
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(C) the United States Postal Inspection 
Service; 
(D) Immigration and Customs Enforce-
ment; 
(E) the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Fire-
arms and Explosives; 
(F) Homeland Security Investigations; 
(G) United States Customs and Border 
Protection; 
(H) the Department of Defense; 
(I) the Financial Crimes Enforcement Net-
work; and 
(J) the Department of Justice. 
(2) CONSULTATION.—The Director may consult 
with any State, Tribal, local, or international depart-
ment or agency the Director determines necessary to 
carry out the purpose of the task force described in 
subsection (b). 
(d) DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS.—To further the pur-
pose of the task force described in subsection (b), the task 
force shall— 
(1) engage in— 
(A) proactive and reactive investigations; 
and 
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(B) forensic and cyberforensic examina-
tions; 
(2) provide forensic and cyberforensic, tech-
nical, preventive, and investigative training and as-
sistance to— 
(A) prosecutors; and 
(B) law enforcement agencies; 
(3) develop best practices to assist Federal, 
State, Tribal, and local law enforcement agencies, 
prosecutors, and others, as appropriate, in the col-
lection of evidence in order to determine and inves-
tigate possible nexuses to the dark web and virtual 
assets, including— 
(A) evidence logging; 
(B) evidence maintenance; and 
(C) evidence sharing; 
(4) develop multijurisdictional and multiagency 
responses and partnerships with Federal, inter-
national, local, non-profit organizations, and other 
law enforcement agencies, as appropriate, by— 
(A) establishing procedures for information 
sharing; 
(B) establishing lists of recommended spe-
cialized equipment and tools to investigate and 
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prosecute the distribution of illicit drugs, goods, 
and services on the dark web; and 
(C) helping the agencies acquire the nec-
essary knowledge, personnel, and specialized 
equipment to investigate and prosecute the dis-
tribution of illegal drugs, goods, and services 
through the dark web; 
(5) create novel investigative approaches to— 
(A) target emerging technologies that fa-
cilitate the distribution of opioids through illicit 
marketplaces on the dark web; and 
(B) build forensic capacity and expertise to 
meet the challenges posed by the technologies; 
(6) enhance collaboration and coordination with 
international partners; and 
(7) engage in any other activities the Director 
determines necessary to carry out the duties of the 
task force. 
(e) GUIDANCE AND TRAINING.—The task force shall 
provide guidance and training to officers and employees 
of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other Federal, 
international, and other law enforcement agencies, as ap-
propriate, relating to— 
(1) techniques and procedures to— 
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(A) recognize evidence or potential evi-
dence relating to the dark web; and 
(B) identify and recognize patterns and 
practices relating to the distribution of illegal 
drugs, services, and goods through the dark 
web; 
(2) the types of information that should be col-
lected and recorded in information technology sys-
tems used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to 
help— 
(A) identify administrators and operators 
of illicit marketplaces; 
(B) identify vendors, buyers, and other in-
dividuals involved in the distribution of opioids 
through illicit marketplaces; and 
(C) detect, disrupt, and dismantle illicit 
marketplaces; 
(3) procedures for systematic and routine infor-
mation sharing within the Federal Bureau of Inves-
tigation and between Federal, State, Tribal, and 
local law enforcement agencies; and 
(4) any other training or guidance the Director 
determines necessary to carry out the duties of the 
task force. 
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(f) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Di-
rector of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, acting 
through the Director, shall submit to the Committee on 
the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Ju-
diciary of the House of Representatives a report, which 
shall include, for the previous year— 
(1) a summary of the activities and accomplish-
ments of the task force; 
(2) a description of the investigative methods 
used by the task force, including an assessment of 
the effectiveness of the methods; 
(3) information on investigation and prosecu-
tion performance measures for the task force, in-
cluding— 
(A) the number of investigations the task 
force conducted or assisted; 
(B) the number of illicit marketplaces de-
tected, disrupted, or dismantled as a result of 
an investigation conducted or assisted by the 
task force; 
(C) the number of arrests relating to an 
investigation conducted or assisted by the task 
force; and 
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(D) statistics that account for the disposi-
tion of investigations by the task force that did 
not result in an arrest or a prosecution; 
(4) an assessment of partnerships between the 
task force and other Federal, State, Tribal, and local 
law enforcement agencies, including the effectiveness 
of guidance and training provided by the task force 
to personnel of other Federal, State, Tribal, and law 
enforcement agencies; 
(5) an evaluation of the collaboration and co-
ordination between the task force and international 
partners; 
(6) recommendations for additional congres-
sional or legislative action, as appropriate, that 
would be useful or necessary to achieve the purpose 
of the task force described in subsection (b); 
(7) a summary of how transactions involving 
the distribution of illegal drugs, goods, and services 
through the dark web are financed; 
(8) a description of a plan to increase the ca-
pacity to investigate the distribution of illegal drugs, 
goods, and services through the dark web; and 
(9) recommendations for additional congres-
sional or legislative action, as appropriate, that 
would improve the efforts of Federal agencies to de-
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tect, disrupt, and dismantle illicit marketplaces, in-
cluding efforts to identify individuals and groups in-
volved in the distribution of illegal drugs, goods, and 
services through the dark web. 
(g) FUNDING.—The Director shall carry out this sec-
tion using amounts otherwise made available to the Attor-
ney General. 
(h) SUNSET.—This section shall cease to have force 
or effect on the date that is 5 years after the date of enact-
ment of this Act. 
SEC. 6. REPORT ON VIRTUAL CURRENCIES. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Attorney General, in consultation with the 
Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Homeland 
Security, shall submit to Congress a report on the use of 
virtual currencies in the distribution of opioids through il-
licit marketplaces on the dark web, which shall include— 
(1) a summary of how virtual currencies are— 
(A) used to finance transactions involving 
the distribution of opioids through illicit mar-
ketplaces on the dark web; and 
(B) exchanged in the course of trans-
actions described in subparagraph (A), includ-
ing transactions involving— 
(i) peer-to-peer networks; 
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(ii) virtual currency; 
(iii) money transmitters; or 
(iv) other financial institutions; 
(2) the number of instances involving the dis-
tribution of opioids through illicit marketplaces on 
the dark web in which an individual involved used a 
virtual currency to finance the distribution; 
(3) the most common types of virtual currencies 
used by individuals involved in the distribution of 
opioids through illicit marketplaces on the dark web; 
(4) an assessment of the capacity to investigate 
the use of virtual currencies in the distribution of 
opioids through illicit marketplaces on the dark web, 
including— 
(A) efforts to assist financial institutions 
in detecting, identifying, and reporting sus-
picious activity and money laundering; 
(B) efforts to obtain financial records and 
other documents from virtual currency opera-
tors and exchanges; 
(C) training and guidance to Federal, 
State, Tribal, and local law enforcement agen-
cies and prosecutors; and 
(D) coordination and collaboration with 
international partners; and 
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(5) recommendations for additional congres-
sional or legislative action that would improve the ef-
forts of Federal agencies to detect, disrupt, and dis-
mantle illicit marketplaces on the dark web, includ-
ing efforts to identify individuals using virtual cur-
rencies in the distribution of opioids through illicit 
marketplaces on the dark web. 
SEC. 7. FIVE YEAR UPDATE. 
It is the sense of Congress that, not less frequently 
than once every 5 years, Congress should evaluate and, 
if necessary, update the definition of the term ‘‘dark web’’ 
in section 401(i) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 
U.S.C. 841(i)), as added by section 4 of this Act. 
SEC. 8. SEVERABILITY. 
If any portion of this Act, or the amendments made 
by this Act, or the application thereof to any person or 
circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of this Act and 
the amendments made by this Act, and the application of 
this Act or the amendments made by this Act to other 
persons not similarly situated or to other circumstances 
shall not be affected by the invalidation. 
Æ 
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