Police Monitoring Drug Sales On Facebook

Icelandic police are getting more involved in stopping the buying and selling of drugs on Facebook.

RÚV reports that the Facebook drug trade is usually conducted within closed or secret groups that one must gain approval to join. The drugs traded include virtually everything from cannabis and ecstasy to steroids.

Detective Þórir Ingvarsson told reporters that the police receive up to 300 private messages a day informing them of drug trafficking on Facebook. By comparison, only a few of these tips are being investigated.

Þórir added that while the Facebook drug trade is small, it is growing. The police do have the authority to follow illegal activities on Facebook, including gaining access to these closed groups and soliciting for drugs without revealing themselves to be police officers. Þórir would not confirm if this sort of e-undercover work is being employed.