The operation came to light after NCB intercepted three suspicious packages in Kochi on June 28. A subsequent raid on Edison’s residence uncovered 1,127 LSD blotters, 131 grams of Ketamine, and cryptocurrency wallets holding about ₹70 lakh. The NCB said ‘Ketamelon’ was India’s only ‘Level 4’ darknet vendor 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 United Kingdom-based vendor Gunga Din, a known re-shipper of the globally infamous Dr. Seuss (a.k.a. DS or Tribe Seuss), believed to be the largest LSD source in the world,” it said. In September 2022, the Hyderabad police had arrested eight people, following which the name of “Zambada” cartel had come up.
- NCB sources revealed that the accused operated under the alias ‘Ketamelon’, identified as India’s only Level 4 vendor on the darknet — a status awarded based on the quality of drugs sold and customer satisfaction.
- From items like drugs, fake ID cards, and hacked bank accounts to more complex offerings like human trafficking, these sites carry all the illegal activities you can think of.
- It exposes the vulnerabilities in existing postal monitoring, the challenge of policing privacy-focused cryptocurrencies, and the increasing technical sophistication of domestic drug traffickers.
- “Zambada was the only cartel in the country with 5-star rating…in India operating from Delhi National Capital Region.
- CXOtoday is a premier resource on the world of IT, relevant to key business decision makers.
What Is Ketamelon?
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. The NCB’s financial investigation has also identified Hawala network money payment channels and a group of companies involved in it. The identified assets include 45 properties, many front businesses, including liquor brands, real estate, pubs and restaurants and 190 bank accounts. “The modus operandi of the drug traffickers included the use of Darknet, cryptocurrency, digital media, UPIs and fake KYC documents as well as post and courier services,” the sources said. “It was busted in an operation that detected and dismantled the drug market on the Darknet and on social media run by anonymous and professional traffickers, and home delivery network,” they said. “The bureau is carrying out operations against drug cartels under the direct supervision of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, pursuant to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to put an end to narcotics trade in the country,” they said.
Top News Today
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. LSD — also commonly known as acid, blots, and stamps — is a potent hallucinogenic drug, without any colour, taste or smell. It is painted or dipped into stamps and licked or swallowed by users. “The name derives from the vendor’s (arrested accused) early involvement in Ketamine smuggling. 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.
As per officials, Ketamelon was the only Level 4 darknet vendor operating in India, a top-tier status based on global darknet vendor rankings. 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 Narcotics Control Bureau on Tuesday claimed to have busted the “biggest” darknet-based LSD cartel operating in India with the seizure of more than 13,000 blots and Rs 26 lakh in cash and the arrest of three persons.
Reliance And Google Cloud Expand Partnership To Accelerate India’s Growth With AI
It is used by many for buying or selling items that are prohibited on the regular internet, like fake IDs, illegal drugs, and stolen data. Operation MELON represents a significant and timely success in India’s fight against darknet-facilitated drug trafficking. The bust of “Ketamelon”—a Level 4 darknet vendor—underscores the evolving sophistication of narcotics syndicates, combining tech-savvy concealment with global supply chains. “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 said. 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.
Cypher Marketplace
Users report sensing colours or hearing sounds, often accompanied by intense emotions and distorted perception of space and time. The investigation confirmed that “Ketamelon” held a Level 4 vendor status—the highest tier in India—actively operating for two years. The name originated from the vendor’s early involvement in Ketamine smuggling. Drugs were sourced from Gunga Din, a UK-based vendor affiliated with “Dr Seuss” or “Tribe Seuss”, the world’s most notorious LSD supplier.
NCB Raids: 22 Arrested Across India Over Drug Trafficking On Dark Net
It brings in vendor reviews from other places and verifies them using PGP signatures, so buyers can feel a bit more confident about who they’re dealing with. There’s also a premium account option for users who want extra benefits. And when it comes to paying, the site sticks to Bitcoin (BTC) and Monero (XMR) to keep transactions private. Understandably, as in the case with most illicit trade markets, you don’t even need to verify your email Awazon.
- “The modus operandi of the drug traffickers included the use of Darknet, cryptocurrency, digital media, UPIs and fake KYC documents as well as post and courier services,” the sources said.
- If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments.
- Next up is Abacus, another newer market that has already made a massive name for itself, especially following AlphaBay’s closure.
- Most people start by using the Tor Browser, which hides your IP address.
- Even after Silk Road went down, dark web marketplaces haven’t slowed down.
The 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 Kaler.
NCB Busts Major Darknet Drug Cartel; Muvattupuzha Native Among Two Taken Into Custody
First things first, always use strong and different passwords for each account you open. As mentioned earlier, launching a cyberattack doesn’t require any hacking skills. Even people with zero technical knowledge can buy phishing kits, ransomware, or stolen logins. It became the blueprint for other dark web marketplaces that tried to take its place. While this may all sound sophisticated, it is a financial crime and very risky.
The Marketplace As An Arsenal
N 2025, dark web websites frequently change domains and are often short-lived. Accessing them may require .onion links and the Tor browser, but caution is advised due to legality and cybersecurity risks. They use pseudonymous wallets, privacy coins (like Monero), mixers, chain-hopping, and non-KYC platforms to obscure transaction trails. Cybersecurity experts should pay close attention to these trends, as they often indicate emerging threats and profit-generating tactics among the cybercriminal forums. Never log in with your real name or reuse passwords from other accounts. Stick to cryptocurrency, avoid downloading anything, and don’t share any personal info.
It is an independent newspaper in the real sense of the term.The Tribune has two sister publications, Punjabi Tribune (in Punjabi) and Dainik Tribune (in Hindi). The NCB officer said that the arrested individual had established a sophisticated system of sourcing, distribution and payment via cryptocurrency. Despite these safeguards, investigators were able to map and analyze on-chain activities, demonstrating that blockchain openness, when combined with industry collaboration, can shatter the illusion of anonymity. Rai also said along with other prevention methods, a special task force has been constituted to monitor such suspicious transactions related to drugs. The darknet refers to hidden computer networks with restricted access that are increasingly being used by those seeking to evade the law.
Delhi Zoo Shut For Visitors After Painted Storks Test Positive For Bird Flu
Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. Privacy coins “operate on an immutable ledger,” meaning “evidence of criminal transactions will exist forever,” he said. The NCB, the officials said, is trying to freeze the crypto funds too. ‘Zambada’ intended to open an Indian ‘outlet’ of Dr Seuss with a minimum stock of one lakh LSD blots. It has ‘outlets’ in the UK, USA, South Africa, Canada, Russia, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Turkey, according to DDG Singh. “The cartel was being operated by young educated men in the age bracket of years,” he said.
