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New Indian Express
01-07-2025
- New Indian Express
NCB busts major darknet drug cartel; Muvattupuzha native among two taken into custody
KOCHI: In a breakthrough, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has busted a massive international drug racket operating through the darknet, seizing over Rs one crore worth of narcotics and crypto assets. A Muvattupuzha native, believed to be the kingpin, is among two people taken into custody in the high-stakes operation code-named 'Operation MELON.' Led by the NCB Cochin Zonal Unit, the raid resulted in the seizure of 1,127 LSD blots, 131.66 grams of Ketamine, and cryptocurrency assets worth Rs 70 lakh -- marking one of the biggest LSD busts in the country. The operation was set in motion on June 28 when officers intercepted 280 LSD blots from three international parcels at the Kochi International Post Office. All three parcels were traced back to the prime accused in Muvattupuzha. A swift follow-up search at his residence the next day unearthed 847 more LSD blots and over 130 grams of Ketamine -- together valued at Rs 35.12 lakh. The real shocker came from the digital trail.
India Today
01-07-2025
- 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
