Further investigations led to a house search on the next day, revealing 847 more LSD blots and significant quantities of Ketamine. Binance’s intelligence bridged significant gaps between digital trails and on-ground authorities. On the financial side, the network funneled funds through privacy-focused digital assets like Monero, while also using wallet-hopping and obfuscation techniques.
NCB Busts Major Darknet Drug Cartel; Muvattupuzha Native Among Two Taken Into Custody
Alongside the drugs, officials also confiscated digital assets valued at ₹70 lakh, taking the total recovery above ₹1 crore. Earlier in 2023, NCB busted the then biggest darknet based LSD cartel named "Zambada", seizing 29,013 blots of LSD, 472 grams of MDMA & Rs.51.38 Lakh cash and arrested 14 persons out of which main kingpins are under judicial custody. He utilized the government postal system and the dark web to facilitate his illicit activities, which involved the trafficking of drugs and the use of Monero cryptocurrency to launder over ₹68 lakh (approximately $82,000). Edison, operating under the alias "Ketamelon," was identified as the mastermind behind India's largest darknet drug trafficking operation.
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- This task force will specifically monitor suspicious transactions involving drugs conducted on the darknet.
- Security researchers have been monitoring forums within the cybercriminal underworld to investigate the leading markets operating in 2026.
- Probe so far has revealed that the accused had sold the LSD blots to buyers in Bengaluru, Chennai, Bhopal, Patna, Delhi, as well as regions in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
- The value of the drugs and digital money found adds up to more than ₹68 lakh (about $82,000).
- New Delhi, Jul 1 (PTI) The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Tuesday claimed to have busted a darknet-based pan-India LSD (a type of drug) trafficking syndicate with the arrest of two persons and seizure of drugs and cryptocurrency worth about Rs one crore.
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. It is also known as acid, blots, stamps etc. The name of this particular syndicate is derived from the vendor’s early involvement in Ketamine smuggling, as per the agency. The agency launched an operation codenamed ‘Melon’ to investigate it after getting primary inputs from the Cochin seizure,” the NCB said in a statement. Authorities stated that 'Operation Melon' is the biggest and most complex operation conducted by the NCB Kochi Unit since then. The NCB has thus dismantled a nationwide drug trafficking network.
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Despite the seizure of over $82,000 in cryptocurrency, Monero's market remained unaffected, reflecting the isolated nature of personal holdings and the limited impact of such seizures on the broader cryptocurrency market. He placed orders for large quantities of LSD on the darknet, using fake addresses and SIM cards to avoid arrest. Edison's operations were highly sophisticated, involving the use of advanced encryption tools and Monero's privacy features to evade detection. India's Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has made a significant breakthrough in combating cybercrime and drug trafficking with the arrest of Edison Babu, a 35-year-old engineer from Kerala.
Launched in 2023, STYX focuses on financial crime, providing stolen credit card data, hacked bank accounts and access to various cryptocurrency laundering tools. Security researchers have been monitoring forums within the cybercriminal underworld to investigate the leading markets operating in 2026. Stick to cryptocurrency, avoid downloading anything, and don’t share any personal info. By supplying stolen data, these dark web links fuel many online scams and identity theft operations, playing a critical role in the darker aspects of the internet. LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) is a hallucinogenic drug which chemically acts to change the way people sense the world around them.
The cartel operated from Delhi NCR and had a consistent 5-star rating on the darknet. Drugs were sourced from Gunga Din, a UK-based vendor affiliated with “Dr Seuss” or “Tribe Seuss”, the world’s most notorious LSD supplier. The investigation confirmed that “Ketamelon” held a Level 4 vendor status—the highest tier in India—actively operating for two years. Zambada cartel was the only cartel in the country with 5-star rating of most time in India operating from Delhi NCR.
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The first time the name of this cartel was reported in the country was in September 2022 when the Hyderabad Police arrested eight people for drug trafficking using the darknet. The NCB Delhi zonal office conducted multiple raids at the premises of these three persons leading to the seizure of 13,863 LSD blots, 428 grams MDMA (ecstasy), and the freezing of Rs 26.73 lakh "drug money", agency officials said. Investigations revealed that "Ketamelon" was India's only Level 4 darknet vendor, a top-tier status in India, operating actively over the past two years. Apart from the LSD blots, 2.32 kgs of ganja and Rs 4.65 lakh cash have been seized while bank deposits worth Rs 20 lakh have been frozen, the deputy DG said. A total of 14,961 blots were seized as part of the about two-week long operation and the blots are of "gammagoblin and holy spirit of asura" brand, Singh said.
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The estimated street value of the seized drugs is about Rs 35.12 lakh with LSD blots being priced in a range of Rs 2,500-“Rs 4,000 each, as per the statement. New Delhi, Jul 1 (PTI) The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Tuesday claimed to have busted a darknet-based pan-India LSD (a type of drug) trafficking syndicate with the arrest of two persons and seizure of drugs and cryptocurrency worth about Rs one crore. Chemical drugs valued at approximately Rs 32 lakh and cryptocurrency worth Rs 70 lakh were seized from his home. The estimated street value of the seized drugs is approximately 35.12 lakhs, with LSD blots priced at 2,500-4,000 each.
The cartels on darknet are rated on scale of 1 star to 5 star based on their potency of drug sold and their customer service. In this search, a lot of other incriminating material including a pen drive containing a bootable KITES OS used to access darknet markets, multiple cryptocurrency wallets, hard disks with incriminating documents and most importantly, a hardware wallet holding approximately 70 lakhs worth of USDT cryptocurrency were seized. A similar darknet-based drugs trafficking racket was unearthed by the agency in 2021 leading to the arrest of 40 persons. Realising PM @narendramodi Ji's vision to create a drug-free India, the NCB team has busted an international narcotics syndicate and seized 15,000 blots of LSD drug.
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During the raid, they seized more than 1,100 LSD blots and around 130 grams of ketamine. The syndicate’s digital drug den operated under the name “Ketamelon”, a nod to its ketamine-rich inventory. The agency’s efforts to disrupt the supply chain of synthetic drugs and cryptocurrency transactions will continue to be a priority in the pursuit of a ‘Drug-Free India’ as envisioned by the central government. Investigations revealed that ‘Ketamelon’ was India’s only Level 4 darknet vendor, operating actively over the past two years.
NCB officials said ‘Ketamelon’ was India’s only Level 4 darknet vendor — kind of a top-tier status — ”operating “actively” over the past two years. The darknet-enabled drugs supply platform had “established” a “widespread” network shipping LSD to cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, Bhopal, Patna, and Delhi apart from some cities in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, it said. “This was (Ketamelon) one of India’s most prolific darknet drugs syndicates.
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During a Parliamentary discussion on July 24, Nityanand Rai, the minister of state for home affairs, revealed India’s current strategy to reduce the import and inter-state movement of narcotic drugs. India’s NCB forms a special task force and initiates digital forensics training to tackle the growing misuse of cryptocurrencies in drug trafficking. The seizure is being described as a major success in dismantling an international drug cartel. We also provide business and technology news to those who evaluate, invest, and manage the IT infrastructure of organizations.
The NCB said the cartel's name is derived from Ismael-Marlo Zambada Garcia, a Mexican drug lord, and he was the last remaining fugitive on the list of Mexico's 37 most wanted drug criminals. “Two of the ground operators of this cartel were identified through technical and human surveillance and this led to the location of the 'mastermind' of this cartel who was operating from Ballabgarh (Faridabad) in Haryana,” he said. LSD or lysergic acid diethylamide is a synthetic chemical-based drug and is categorised as a hallucinogen. Drugs were primarily sourced from a UK-based vendor, Gunga Din, a known reshipper of the globally infamous Dr Seuss (aka DS or Tribe Seuss), believed to be the largest LSD source in the world. Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in india news andworld News on Zee News. He said the operation was undertaken by a special team of the Delhi zonal unit of the agency after they "patrolled" the darknet for many hours.
- LSD — also commonly known as acid, blots, and stamps — is a potent hallucinogenic drug, without any colour, taste or smell.
- The cartels on darknet are rated on a scale of 1 to 5 stars based on the potency of the drug sold and their customer service.
- The NCB Delhi zonal office conducted multiple raids at the premises of these three persons leading to the seizure of 13,863 LSD blots, 428 grams MDMA (ecstasy), and the freezing of Rs 26.73 lakh "drug money", agency officials said.
- “The name derives from the vendor’s early involvement in ketamine smuggling.
The name derives from the vendor's early involvement in Ketamine smuggling. "One is a student who is from Goa but enrolled at a private university in Noida, another is a Delhi boy who was trying to send some of these blots to Kashmir and a girl who has been arrested from the NCR," the zonal director said. Darknet refers to the deep hidden internet platform that is used for narcotics sale, exchange of pornographic content and other illegal activities by using the secret alleys of the onion router (ToR) to stay away from the surveillance of law enforcement agencies. "The suppliers and consumers intercepted by us had no personal interaction and every contact was on the darknet," Singh said.
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The suspect had allegedly been operating as the country's only 'Level 4' darknet vendor under the moniker "Ketamelon" for the past two years, according to reports in local media. India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has dismantled what it calls the country’s "most prolific darknet drug syndicate," arresting a 35-year-old engineer from Muvattupuzha who is accused of operating the network single-handedly while his own family remained unaware of his illegal activities. In a landmark operation, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has successfully dismantled India's largest darknet drug syndicate, known as 'Ketamelon'. Under the identity “Ketamelon,” he received orders on numerous darknet markets, communicated in encryption, and shipped drugs via India’s postal and courier networks.
This blend of digital sophistication and old-fashioned logistics allowed Babu to operate undetected for over a year, building a loyal customer base nationwide. Babu’s operations were not merely opportunistic. High-potency LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) blotters and ketamine, both sought-after substances in India’s underground party and rave circuits. Over roughly 14 months, he processed and shipped over 600 drug consignments to customers across India, earning a reputation for reliability and discretion. It’s where international drug deals, arms sales, and illicit services are routinely brokered away from the prying eyes of law enforcement.
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The operation was carried out by the Amritsar Commissionerate Police in close coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF) and Rajasthan Police. Following weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering, 280 LSD blots were intercepted on June 28 from three postal parcels in Cochin. LSD is an odourless, colourless and tasteless drug and the person consuming it can lose the sense of time, distance and space, the agency said.
