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119-hr-6104119th Congress

Dark Web Interdiction Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]

Introduced

Summary

Would create a federal crime for distributing controlled substances on the dark web and stand up an FBI-led interagency task force to detect, disrupt, and dismantle illicit marketplaces. The bill targets online illicit markets that sell drugs, weapons, stolen data, and other contraband and seeks coordinated investigative and training tools across agencies.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

FBI task force to fight dark web drugs

If enacted, the FBI would host a Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement Task Force. The President would appoint its Director, with Senate confirmation. The team would include FBI, DEA, the Postal Inspection Service, DHS units, ATF, DoD, FinCEN, and DOJ, and could work with State, Tribal, local, and international partners. It would run investigations, do cyber forensics, train agents and prosecutors, and recommend tools and gear. It would use money already available to the Attorney General, report to Congress within 1 year and every year after, and end 5 years after enactment.

Stronger penalties for dark web drug sales

This bill would make it illegal to knowingly sell, deliver, or dispense controlled drugs on the dark web, unless allowed under the Controlled Substances Act. It would also ban helping or planning such sales. If enacted, the U.S. Sentencing Commission would raise the guideline range by 2 levels for these crimes. This uses the bill’s definition of the dark web.

Define the dark web and review it

The bill would set clear definitions for key terms. "Dark web" would mean hidden internet sites reached only with special software or settings. "Illicit marketplace" would mean dark web sites that use virtual currency to sell drugs, weapons, stolen data, fake IDs, and similar goods. These definitions would apply to the new Controlled Substances Act subsection. It would also urge Congress to review the "dark web" definition at least every five years.

Report on virtual currency in opioid sales

The Attorney General, with Treasury and Homeland Security, would report to Congress within 1 year. The report would explain how virtual currencies are used to sell opioids on dark web markets. It would count how often this happens, name common currencies, and assess investigative capacity. It would cover help for financial institutions, getting records from exchanges, training, and global coordination. It would include recommendations for future action.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]

NH • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Gonzales, Tony [R-TX-23]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 11/18/2025

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 12/23/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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