A judge has expressed fears about a secretive eBay-like online marketplace a man used to buy illegal drugs for his "smorgasbord" trafficking operation.

Melbourne's County Court heard the black-market Silk Road had been described as a "certifiable one-stop shop" for illicit drugs.

Consumers protected by anonymity browsed catalogues of substances on Silk Road and users were given positive or negative ratings by other users based on their dealings.

Prosecutor Morgan Brown told the court the website was accessed by software designed to enable online anonymity and a digital "virtual currency", Bitcoin, was used to buy goods.

Judge Damien Murphy commented that anyone with a computer could access the website and he added: "Any kid short of money can become a part-time drug importer."