S.Amdt. 6520

The proposed amendment, known as the Dark Web Interdiction Act of 2026, aims to add a new section to bill S. 4784 to combat the use of the dark web for illegal activities. Its primary purpose is to address the threat that anonymous dark web marketplaces pose to public health and national security, specifically regarding the distribution of illegal drugs and other illicit goods.

The amendment seeks to change and add the following to the bill:

• New Criminal Offenses: It amends the Controlled Substances Act to make it unlawful to knowingly deliver, distribute, or dispense a controlled substance via the dark web, or to aid and abet such activity. It also directs the United States Sentencing Commission to increase the sentence for these violations by 2 levels.

• Creation of a Task Force: It establishes the Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement Task Force within the FBI. This task force is designed to detect, disrupt, and dismantle illicit marketplaces. It will include representatives from various agencies, such as the DEA, DOJ, and Department of Defense, and is tasked with conducting investigations, providing training, and developing best practices for evidence collection.

• Reporting and Accountability:

  • The task force must provide an annual report to the Senate and House Committees on the Judiciary detailing its accomplishments, investigative methods, and performance measures.
  • The Attorney General must submit a report to Congress regarding the use of virtual currencies in the distribution of opioids on the dark web.

• Administrative Provisions: It sets a 5-year sunset date for the task force and suggests that Congress evaluate and update the definition of the "dark web" at least every 5 years.