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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
NCB taps seized data to trace darknet links
Kochi: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Kochi unit has arrested two individuals linked to what officials described as one of India's largest darknet-based drug trafficking syndicates. According to NCB sources, one of the arrested, Edison, a 35-year-old Mechanical Engineering graduate from Muvattupuzha, is the kingpin and ran the operation from his personal computer at home. His arrest followed nearly five months of targeted surveillance. The officials have not yet revealed the identity of the second suspect who has been taken into custody. The arrests were part of operation MELON, which NCB officials said busted one of the most sophisticated darknet drug networks in India, referred to as Ketamelon. On June 28, authorities seized 280 LSD blots from postal parcels in Kochi. Subsequent searches uncovered another 847 LSD blots, 131.66 grams of ketamine, encrypted systems such as TAILS OS, and cryptocurrency wallets with assets worth Rs 70 lakh. "Edison was active on forums like 'Dark Net Market India' and traded via a platform called Drug Hub," said an officer. All transactions were conducted in cryptocurrency and communication occurred over encrypted platforms, investigators said. Though the dark web's encrypted nature concealed much of Edison's activity, a document found on his computer proved vital in revealing the scale of the operation. Officials said Edison was about to place an order for 10,000 LSD blots at the time of his arrest. "To put that into perspective, law enforcement in Kerala seizes at most 1,000 LSD blots in an entire year," one officer noted.
Indian Express
18 hours ago
- Indian Express
Codename Ketamelon: NCB says it has busted India's biggest darknet drugs syndicate
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Tuesday said its Kochi zonal unit busted 'India's most prolific darknet drug syndicate' operating under the name 'Ketamelon'. NCB sources said it arrested one Edison (35), a native of Muvattupuzha in Kerala's Ernakulam district. They alleged that he is currently the largest darknet vendor of drugs in India and is the country's only 'Level 4' darknet vendor who has been operating actively over the past two years. An associate of Edison has also been arrested, but the NCB has not revealed his name. Edison, an engineer, was allegedly sourcing drugs from the UK and has a network across India, officials said. According to the NCB, the name Ketamelon derives from the vendor's involvement in ketamine smuggling. 'Drugs were primarily sourced from a UK-based vendor, Gunga Din, believed to be the largest LSD source in the world,' the agency said. 'If fewer than 1,000 LSD blots were seized in Kerala in a year, this person was supplying around 10,000 LSD blots across the country in a month. He was remanded in judicial custody, and we will seek his custody for further investigation,' sources said. In the operation codenamed 'MELON', the NCB said it seized large quantities of LSD and ketamine — 1,127 LSD blots and 131.66 grams of ketamine — as well as crypto assets worth Rs 70 lakh. The suspect had established a widespread network, shipping LSD to major cities including Bengaluru, Chennai, Bhopal, Patna, Delhi, and regions in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, officials said. Over the last 14 months, 600 shipments were allegedly sent out by him. The estimated market value of the seized drugs is approximately Rs 35.12 lakh, with LSD blots priced at Rs 2,500-4,000 each. The NCB said that after weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering, 280 LSD blots were intercepted on June 28 from three postal parcels in Kochi. 'Investigation in this regard confirmed that these parcels were booked by the suspect. During a search of his house on June 29, 847 more LSD blots and 131.66 grams of Ketamine were seized,' the NCB said. The suspect has allegedly been active in various darknet markets over the last two years. The NCB carried out a four-month probe to identify him. Intensive technical and physical investigations were carried out in this period to get to the accused, officials said. The NCB said that during searches, several other incriminating material were found, including a pen drive containing TAILS, a free and open source operating system protecting privacy and anonymity online, which was used to access darknet markets. Multiple cryptocurrency wallets and hard disks with incriminating documents were seized, officials said.
India Gazette
a day ago
- India Gazette
Delhi: NCB dismantles India's most prolific darknet drug syndicate Ketamelon
New Delhi (India), July 1 (ANI): The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has successfully dismantled India's most prolific darknet drug syndicate, 'Ketamelon,' in a high-impact operation codenamed 'MELON'. The operation resulted in the seizure of 1,127 LSD blots and 131.66 grams of Ketamine, with an estimated street value of approximately 35.12 lakhs, along with digital assets worth 70 lakhs, totaling over 1 crore. Following weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering, 280 LSD blots were intercepted on 28.06.2025 from three postal parcels in Cochin. Investigation in the matter confirmed that these parcels were booked by the suspect. During the search of his house on the next day, i.e., June 29th, 847 more LSD blots and 131.66 grams of Ketamine were seized. 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. Additionally, custodial wallets on platforms such as Binance have been identified for further investigation and action. 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 name derives from the vendor's early involvement in Ketamine smuggling. 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. 'Ketamelon' had established a widespread network, shipping LSD to major cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, Bhopal, Patna, Delhi, and regions in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, with over 600 shipments delivered in the last 14 months The estimated street value of the seized drugs is approximately 35.12 lakhs, with LSD blots priced at 2,500-4,000 each. 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. Zambada cartel was the only cartel in the country with 5-star rating of most time in India operating from Delhi NCR. Dr Seuss AKA DS and TS (Tribe Seuss) were coordinating with the kingpin of Zambada cartel with plans to open outlets in India. 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. LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) is a hallucinogenic drug. Hallucinogens change the way people sense the world around them. It is also known as acid, blots, stamps etc. LSD is odourless, colorless, and tasteless. It can be painted onto small squares of paper that people lick or swallow. LSD causes the senses of space, distance, and time to become altered. People might say they 'hear' colors or 'see' sounds, and have strange feelings and strong emotions. Both suspect and his associate have been taken into custody and further investigation is in progress. 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. To fight against drug trafficking, NCB seeks support of the citizens. Any person can share information related to the sale of narcotics by calling the MANAS- National Narcotics Helpline Toll Free Number-1933. The identity of the caller is kept confidential. (ANI)
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
NCB op in Kochi busts India's top darknet drug syndicate
Kochi: The narcotics control bureau's (NCB) Cochin zonal unit has successfully disrupted one of India's leading darknet drug operations known as 'Ketamelon'. The operation, named 'MELON', led to the confiscation of 1,127 LSD blots, 131.66g of Ketamine alongside cryptocurrency assets valued at Rs 70 lakh. Following extensive surveillance, on June 28, authorities seized 280 LSD blots from postal parcels in Kochi. Subsequent searches revealed 847 additional LSD blots, Ketamine, darknet access equipment including a TAILS operating system, and various cryptocurrency wallets containing approximately Rs 70 lakh in USDT. "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 name derives from the vendor's early involvement in Ketamine smuggling. Drugs were primarily sourced from a UK-based vendor Gunga Din, a known reshipper of the globally infamous Dr Seuss (also known as DS or Tribe Seuss), believed to be the largest LSD source in the world," read the statement issued by NCB. The operation's distribution network extended across India, delivering LSD to Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Bhopal, Patna and regions in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Officials estimate over 600 deliveries happened in 14 months. The seized LSD's street value exceeds Rs 35 lakh, with individual blots selling between Rs 2,500 and Rs 4,000. This operation follows NCB's previous success against the 'Zambada' cartel in 2023, which yielded 29,000 LSD blots and Rs 51 lakh in currency. The current investigation continues with suspects in custody, whilst authorities trace cryptocurrency holdings on platforms like Binance. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
India Today
a day ago
- India Today
India's darknet drug kingpin busted, drugs, Rs 1 crore in cryptocurrency seized
The Narcotics Control Bureau has achieved a major breakthrough by dismantling India's most prolific darknet drug syndicate operating under the alias "Ketamelon", officials said on Tuesday. Two people have been arrested in the NCB Cochin Zonal Unit conducted the operation, dubbed "MELON", which culminated in the recovery of 1,127 blocks of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and 131.66 grams of Ketamine contraband, apart from digital assets worth Rs 70 seized contraband drugs have an estimated street value of approximately Rs 35.12 lakhs, officials added. The anti-drug body also seized USDT cryptocurrency worth over Rs 1 is an odourless, colourless and tasteless drug and the person consuming it can lose the sense of time, distance and space, the agency said."This was (Ketamelon) one of India's most prolific darknet drug syndicates. The agency launched an operation codenamed 'Melon' to investigate it after getting primary inputs from the Cochin seizure," an NCB statement also added that Ketamelon had established a widespread network shipping LSD to several major Indian cities, including Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Bhopal, Patna, and some cities in the hill states like Himachal Pradesh and weeks of surveillance and intelligence gathering, 280 LSD blots were intercepted on June 28 from three postal parcels in Cochin. An investigation into the matter confirmed that these parcels were booked by the suspect. During a search of his house the next day, 847 more LSD blots and 131.66 grams of Ketamine were contrabands were primarily sourced from UK-based vendor Gunga Din, a known reshipper of the globally infamous Dr Seuss (also known as DS or Tribe Seuss) which is believed to be the largest LSD source in the world, the official statement added."Ketamelon" was India's Level 4 darknet vendor, which had been operating in the country for over two years. It had established a widespread network, shipping LSD to major cities across India, with an estimated 600 shipments delivered in 14 came a day after Punjab Police seized a huge amount of drugs in a major operation to crackdown on cross-border narcotics 60.302 kilograms of heroin, valued at around Rs 300 crore, was seized near the international border in Barmer, operation was carried out by the Amritsar Commissionerate Police in close coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF) and Rajasthan Police. According to police, the consignment was linked to a Pakistan-based smuggler, Tanveer Shah, and a Canada-based handler, Joban seizure is being described as a major success in dismantling an international drug cartel.- EndsWith agency inputsMust Watch
