Garcia, according to the NCB, declared on the darknet after this interdiction in India that he was safe and will never be caught. The 'Zambada' cartel, according to the agency, was the "only" cartel in the country with a so-called '5-star rating'. It is odourless, colourless and tasteless and it is painted on small squares of paper (blots) that can be licked or swallowed. It is the second LSD trafficking cartel busted by the agency in the last about three months, officials said.
NCB Busts Major Darknet Drug Cartel; Muvattupuzha Native Among Two Taken Into Custody
The federal agency said that following a specific intelligence, its officials from the Cochin zone on June 28 intercepted three postal parcels in Kochi, carrying 280 LSD blots. 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. In recent years, NCB officials have observed that each consignment of LSD — a psychedelic drug — bears the imprint (name or symbol) of the main supplier. “The name derives from the vendor’s (arrested accused) early involvement in Ketamine smuggling.
- A Muvattupuzha native, believed to be the kingpin, is among two people taken into custody in the high-stakes operation code-named 'Operation MELON.'
- The Ketamelon cartel was originally involved in Ketamine smuggling but transitioned to LSD in recent years.
- When American comedian Neal Brennan spoke to Joe Rogan about his experience with ketamine therapy for depression, he did not sound like a man who had just returned from a rave.
- Rai detailed 13 plans of action against the growing problem of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism in India, two of which targeted the misuse of cryptocurrencies.
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. The NCB has been closely tracking cryptocurrency payments linked to the purchase of narcotics as part of its broader strategy to curb drug trafficking in the country.
Industry-Specific Cyber Threat Intelligence Powered By Agentic AI
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. He used to source large quantities of synthetic drugs through the darknet and sell them to his customers. Though involved in drug trafficking for over six years, the 35-year-old was active in darknet operations only for the past two. Ketamelon, according to NCB officials, was the country’s only Level-4 darknet vendor—a top-tier status in India—operating actively over the past two years on the darknet. The NCB said ‘Ketamelon’ was India’s only ‘Level 4’ darknet vendor operating actively over the past two years. “The operation still continues against the third largest darknet cartel.
Why India’s Driverless Journey May Begin At Ports, Not Public Roads
Dr.Seuss AKA DS and TS (Tribe Seuss) were coordinating with the kingpin of Zambada cartel with plans to open outlets in India,” the NCB said. According to the NCB, surveillance and intelligence gathering led to the interception of three postal parcels carrying 280 LSD blots in Kochi on June 28. The agency suspects that over the last 14 months, 600 shipments were delivered by the vendor.
What shocked investigators even more was his use of Monero, a privacy-focused cryptocurrency, to hide the drug money trail. In a recent bust, India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) dismantled what they called “India’s most prolific darknet drug syndicate”. However, it is important to note how rapidly the digital world has blurred the lines between the pharmacy and the darknet. Drugs were primarily sourced from a UK-based vendor, Gunga Din, a known reshipper of the globally infamous Dr. Seuss (a.k.a. DS or Tribe Seuss), believed to be the largest LSD source in the world. However, the number of cases of drug seizure involving darknet and cryptocurrencies has seen a steady increase since 2022.
Delhi: NCB Dismantles India's Most Prolific Darknet Drug Syndicate Ketamelon
The Ketamelon cartel was originally involved in Ketamine smuggling but transitioned to LSD in recent years. The NCB cited Binance’s assistance in tracing and analyzing cryptocurrency activity, which played a crucial role in identifying and freezing illicit funds. Evidence uncovered during the operation included a hardware wallet holding about $800 worth of USDT and custodial wallets on platforms such as Binance. In the 14 months leading up to the arrest, the group is believed to have shipped approximately 600 drug packages to cities across India, including Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, and regions in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand .
Nvest Wisely With Smart Market Tools & Investment Ideas
One of the most extensive illegal uses of the dark web is drug trafficking. To fight against drug trafficking, NCB seeks support of the citizens. LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) is a hallucinogenic drug. The arrest of Edison Babu is a testament to the effectiveness of the NCB's efforts in dismantling transnational drug trafficking networks. While the seizure of cryptocurrency in this case did not disrupt the market, it underscores the need for continuous innovation in monitoring and enforcement strategies. 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.
Mulayamkottil Edison Kerala Engineer Arrested As Level-4 Darknet Drug Vendor
In a major breakthrough against crime, India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), with support from the Data Security Council of India (DSCI) and assistance from Binance, dismantled “Ketamelon,” the country’s most sophisticated darknet drug network. However, the data does not specify the exact number of cases that were exclusively related to the darknet or cryptocurrency. Since 2020, India has recorded 92 cases involving the use of the darknet and cryptocurrencies for drug transactions, according to Nityanand Rai, Minister of State for Home Affairs. Regtechtimes is a niche digital media platform that provides news, stories, and resources about regulatory technology. Around the same time, the United States Treasury placed sanctions on a Russian hosting company linked to cybercrimes, including darknet drug sales and ransomware attacks.
Used By Indian Army, Kerala Police To Become First State Force To Equip AK-203 Rifles
Under the identity “Ketamelon,” he received orders on numerous darknet markets, communicated encryptedly, and shipped drugs via India’s postal and courier networks. 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. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has successfully dismantled India’s most prolific darknet drug syndicate, “Ketamelon,” in a high-impact operation codenamed “MELON”. 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.
The drugs were reportedly sourced from a UK-based darknet vendor, “Gunga Din,” known as a reshipper for the infamous global LSD supplier "Dr Seuss" or “Tribe Seuss”, believed to be the world’s largest LSD distributor. The estimated street value of the seized drugs is approximately Rs 35.12 lakh, with LSD blots priced at Rs 2,500-4,000 each. This came a day after Punjab Police seized a huge amount of drugs in a major operation to crackdown on cross-border narcotics smuggling. The NCB had busted a similar darket-based LSD cartel named Zambada in 2023 and it had arrested 14 persons in the case apart from seizing 29,013 LSD blots, 472 grams of MDMA and Rs 51.38 lakh in cash. NCB sources said that the 'darknet,' operating under the veil of the digital world, had provided a new haven for drug traffickers.
- EastMojo is a digital news media platform promoting north east India news.
- The name of this particular syndicate is derived from the vendor’s early involvement in Ketamine smuggling, as per the agency.
- This seizure exemplifies NCB's commitment to successfully dismantle the supply of synthetic drugs facilitated via the Darknet and cryptocurrency channels to accomplish the vision of DRUG FREE INDIA.
- The estimated street value of the seized drugs is approximately 35.12 lakhs, with LSD blots priced at 2,500-4,000 each.
- Drugs were primarily sourced from a UK-based vendor, Gunga Din, a known reshipper of the globally infamous Dr. Seuss (a.k.a. DS or Tribe Seuss), believed to be the largest LSD source in the world.
NCB had busted a similar darknet-based LSD cartel named Zambada in 2023 and it had arrested 14 persons in the case apart from seizing 29,013 LSD blots, 472 grams of MDMA and ₹51.38 lakh in cash. The estimated street value of the seized drugs is about ₹35.12 lakh with LSD blots being priced in a range of ₹2,500-₹ 4,000 each, as per the statement. The cartels on darknet, as per the investigators, are rated on a scale of 1 to 5 star based on their potency of drugs sold and their customer service.
THE VENDOR HALL OF FAME
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. Edison sold drug products in Bengaluru, Chennai, Bhopal, Patna, Delhi, and various locations in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Authorities stated that he has long-standing ties with international drug syndicates. So far, the NCB has recovered about ₹4 crore drug money.
Classic darknet markets sell diverse illegal goods; data stores focus on leaked or stolen data like credentials, databases, and ID records. Apart from the dark web markets that are operating online today, some raided platforms influenced many markets. It enhances buyer transparency by importing vendor feedback with PGP proof. Launched in 2023, STYX focuses on financial crime, providing stolen credit card data, hacked bank accounts and access to various cryptocurrency laundering tools.
It highlights the necessity for international cooperation and the use of advanced tools to track and apprehend criminals operating on the dark web. The NCB's investigation revealed that Edison had been running this operation for over two years, highlighting the growing sophistication of drug trafficking operations on the dark web. Once the drugs arrived, he would directly approach the courier office to receive the parcel.
These drugs were brought into India using clever smuggling techniques, often hidden in parcels and sent through regular mail or courier services. The NCB also revealed that the drugs sold by the accused mostly came from foreign sources. This complex digital trail took time and effort for officers to crack, but in the end, they were able to link the funds directly to his drug sales. According to investigators, the drugs mostly came from international sellers, including one in the United Kingdom known to be the world’s biggest supplier of LSD. These drugs were secretly shipped to cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, and parts of Himachal Pradesh.
