According to this article in The New York Times, there has been a significant increase in the online sale of opioids to the United States from international operations, many of which are located in Asia. Drug dealers utilizing the so-called “Dark Web” have been fulfilling orders for powerful synthetic opioids such as Fentanyl for years. However, as the number of drug overdose related fatalities increases over time, authorities have begun focusing more of their attention on stopping the online flow of drugs. Last year, more than two dozen arrests were made of American drug dealers who were running online opioid operations. While the opioid epidemic is growing on a global scale, the number of drug overdose related deaths in the United States most likely exceeded a record 59,000 last year, according to the article’s sources. And while online sales account for only a small portion of the overall inventory of drugs in the country, officials see unique challenges associated with these transactions. One of the primary concerns of online drug trafficking is that it allows these powerful substances to find their way into the lives and homes of many individuals who might not otherwise have the means to obtain them, including children.