HR6104-119

What This Bill Does

The Dark Web Interdiction Act of 2025 targets online marketplaces used for illegal drugs and related contraband. It adds a Controlled Substances Act offense for knowingly or intentionally delivering, distributing, or dispensing controlled substances by means of the dark web, or aiding and abetting that conduct. It directs the Sentencing Commission to add a two-level sentencing increase for covered dark-web drug offenses. It establishes the Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement Task Force in the FBI, led by a presidentially appointed, Senate-confirmed director and including agencies such as FBI, DEA, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, ICE, ATF, Homeland Security Investigations, CBP, DOD, FinCEN, and DOJ components. The task force must detect, disrupt, and dismantle illicit marketplaces; provide forensic and cyberforensic training; develop best practices and equipment lists; build multijurisdictional partnerships; track emerging technologies; and coordinate internationally. The Attorney General, with Treasury and DHS, must report within one year on how virtual currencies finance opioid transactions on the dark web, investigative capacity, suspicious activity, record access from operators and exchanges, training, international coordination, and recommended policy changes.

Who Benefits and How

Federal drug investigators benefit from a specific dark-web controlled-substance offense and a permanent interagency task force. Communities harmed by opioid trafficking benefit if dark-web sellers face stronger disruption, prosecution, and sentencing exposure. Cyberforensic and blockchain investigation units benefit from required training, best practices, equipment assessments, and coordination. Congress benefits from a one-year report on virtual currency, suspicious activity, record access, and enforcement capacity. Postal, customs, homeland security, and financial-crimes agencies benefit from a formal structure for joint investigations.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Dark-web drug sellers and aiders or abettors face a new federal offense and a two-level sentencing increase. FBI must host and administer the Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement Task Force. Participating agencies including DEA, USPIS, ICE, ATF, HSI, CBP, DOD, FinCEN, and DOJ components must staff and coordinate task-force work. Virtual currency exchanges and financial institutions may face more scrutiny, record requests, suspicious activity reporting, and anti-money-laundering attention. The Sentencing Commission must amend sentencing guidelines for covered dark-web controlled-substance offenses.

Key Provisions

• Creates a federal offense for distributing controlled substances through the dark web.
• Requires a two-level sentencing increase for covered dark-web drug offenses.
• Establishes an FBI-based Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement Task Force.
• Requires interagency training, cyberforensic support, best practices, equipment lists, partnerships, and international coordination.
• Requires a one-year report on virtual currency use in dark-web opioid transactions and enforcement gaps.