Police probe illegal drugs site at Victoria Uni

Police are investigating a ‘‘dark web’’ site trading in illegal and prescription drugs, supposedly being run by three Wellington computer science students.

Party drugs, painkillers, and fake doctors’ scripts are for sale on NZ Underworld, claimed to have been started by Victoria University students who have challenged police to catch them if they can.

The anonymous marketplace currently has about 150 members, who join by invitation only. About three new users joined each day, and were vetted online to keep out undercover police, the founders claimed.

Victoria University said it did not know who ran the site, but had expressed concerns to police.

A police spokeswoman said the National Cyber Crime Centre could be called in to help the investigation.

‘‘We cannot go into further detail, due to the nature of the investigation.’’

The founders of the site claim to be part of a counter-culture movement bridging a gap in supply and demand. ‘‘Drug raids are at an all-time high, and prescriptions are harder than ever to get – and we and our users can’t help but feel that this does nothing to help communities.’’

One seller posting on the site claimed to have a ‘‘huge stash’’ of anti-psychotic drug Seroquel, meant for schizophrenia patients, and advertised the pills as a study aid. A buyer gave them positive review, saying they bought 30 pills and received them by post.

The founders said they took a 1.5 per cent cut of every bitcoin transaction. One bitcoin is currently worth about $450.

Victoria University is unhappy about the site, which was originally launched as ‘‘Vic Underworld’’, using Tor (The Onion Router) software, in June. Tor is a gateway to the ‘‘dark web’’ – home to global drugs supermarkets such as the Silk Road, which was shut down by the FBI in 2013.