Online market 'is turning drug dealers from goons to geeks'

Customer service skills and a way with words are replacing muscles and a tough reputation, says European drugs agency

Drug dealers are turning from goons to geeks in a trade that is increasingly being conducted online, says a report by the European drugs agency.

Research into internet drug markets by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) suggested the self-regulation of online markets such as Silk Road provide a safer environment for users and dealers of illicit substances.