“It is the largest cartel of LSD based on volume of business and supply chain. This cartel comprises young educated men in the age bracket of years…various web series on OTT platforms inspired their mode of operations. Local media reported that Edison was “currently the largest darknet vendor of drugs in India,” sourcing narcotics primarily from UK-based vendor “Gunga Din,” believed to be the world’s largest LSD supplier. A similar darknet-based drugs trafficking racket was unearthed by the agency in 2021 leading to the arrest of 40 persons. Shah said the success was a result of a “great coordination between cyber vigilance and human intelligence…As the darknet and cryptocurrencies were used to trade these drugs”. You can use dark web monitoring tools, such as NordVPN’s Dark Web Monitor, to check if your data has been leaked.
What Do People Sell Or Exchange On Darknet Markets?
Its origins can be traced back to the 1990s, through research funded by the United States Department of Defense. The aim was to develop an encrypted communication network for intelligence operatives. This initiative evolved into the Tor network, now used globally—for both legitimate and illegal activities. 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. Some custodial wallets on crypto platforms like Binance have been identified for further investigation, it said. Two persons linked to the syndicate have been arrested till now, the agency said.
News Corner
If you take a quick look through darknet marketplaces, you’ll instantly notice an overwhelming supply of pirated content. We’re talking about even early access to unreleased music, leaked TV episodes, concert footage, and even popular video games before they officially drop. It’s also a marketplace for digital mercenaries; you’ll find everything from solo hackers offering their skills to well-organized groups that take on more complex or high-stakes projects. Some even have connections to criminal organizations and, in more serious cases, government-backed operations. But somewhere between production and purchasing, things can get dirty.
NCB Busts ‘Ketamelon’ Darknet Drug Syndicate, 2 Held In Raids
Therefore, most cybersecurity experts recommend using Monero while shopping on darknet markets. This can include everything from full names, email logins, and passwords to credit card details, social security numbers, and bank account information. The cybercriminals trade even sensitive documents, such as medical records, passport information, and driver’s licenses. Classic darknet markets sell diverse illegal goods; data stores focus on leaked or stolen data like credentials, databases, and ID records. After that, he settled down at home and became active in dark-net-based drug trafficking. He used to source large quantities of synthetic drugs through the darknet and sell them to his customers.
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They mix and transfer funds through various privacy wallets and escrow services to hide the original source and make the illicit transactions harder to trace. However, if we’re being honest, the majority of activity on darknet markets involves illegal or heavily regulated items. A 2020 study found that almost 57% of sites on the Tor network hosted some form of illegal content.
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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. It has also frozen 35 properties, 24 bank accounts worth ₹32 crore.
For sellers, it’s often about making money while staying off the radar. 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. Despite growing crackdowns from law enforcement agencies, the dark web remains a hotbed of criminal activity, offering everything from drugs to stolen data. A bootable KITES OS, used to access darknet marketplaces anonymously, was also recovered. Authorities are now investigating custodial wallets on platforms such as Binance for potential links. In a high-stakes operation codenamed “MELON”, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) recently dismantled India’s most prolific darknet drug syndicate, “Ketamelon”.
“This seizure highlights the deep web’s evolving threat and the NCB’s enhanced cyber and financial surveillance capabilities,” the officer said. Operating through encrypted channels, the Ketamelon network had delivered over 600 shipments to cities across India, including Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Bhopal, Patna, remote regions of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. 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. The U.S. derivatives regulator issued a “reminder” that foreign crypto firms registered with the CFTC as FBOTs can directly handle U.S. customers.
- 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.
- The dark web combines encryption, anonymity, and hidden doorways to provide the perfect sanctuary for such illicit activity compared to the usual internet, which is more vulnerable and trackable.
- 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.
- 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.
- It maintains a very strict level of user verification and integration with an official Telegram account to provide real-time updates to users.
- As dark web crimes grow in scale and complexity, experts warn that India needs to invest more in digital forensics, inter-agency coordination, and public awareness campaigns to keep the internet safe.
How Complex Are Dark Web Marketplaces Currently?
Seventeen people were arrested, including kingpins, traffickers, white-collar criminals, two Afghan heroin processing experts and members of the alleged Jaggu Bhagwan Puria gang. The seizure in the case included about 34.5 kg of heroin, 5.5 kg morphine, 0.6 kg opium, 23.6 kg narcotics powder, acetic anhydride, bullets and magazines. Some dark web marketplaces even host content that’s not just illegal but extremely harmful, so it’s really important to understand the risks before diving in. Others are looking for stolen data, hacking services, or even banned books and political content.
The federal anti-narcotics agency had seized a cache of 15,000 LSD blots, the highest ever catch in one operation, and arrested half-a-dozen people in June. Immediately change your passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and notify your bank or credit card provider if the leaked information includes your financial data. You should also consider freezing your credit to prevent identity theft.
He used to receive the drugs through international couriers, the NCB source said. Prior to the Ketamelon bust, the NCB in 2023 dismantled the country’s largest LSD cartel at the time—Zambada. That operation led to the seizure of 29,013 LSD blots, 472 grams of MDMA, ₹51.38 lakh in cash, and the arrest of 14 individuals.
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Zambada was known for having a rare 5-star vendor rating in India and was reportedly in coordination with Dr Seuss to expand operations. According to investigators, Ketamelon derived its name from its early operations involving ketamine smuggling. 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. As per officials, Ketamelon was the only Level 4 darknet vendor operating in India, a top-tier status based on global darknet vendor rankings.
LSD or lysergic acid diethylamide is a synthetic chemical based-drug and is categorised as a hallucinogen. Dark web markets have exploded in scale and reach in 2025, becoming the most dangerous hubs for trading drugs, stolen data, and hacking tools. These anonymous marketplaces—operating mainly on the Tor network—are now a primary threat vector for businesses and cybersecurity professionals. This arrest marks an eye-opening exposition of both the innovative methods employed by criminals to evade detection and the evolving strategies by police forces worldwide to counteract these techniques.
Investigators also found evidence of custodial wallets on global platforms like Binance, which are now under scrutiny. 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.
What Is Ketamelon? India’s Top Darknet Drug Syndicate Dismantled By NCB
To his neighbors and acquaintances, he was soft-spoken and reserved, occasionally spotted taking his toddler to daycare. Yet, behind this unassuming facade lay a dark and complex secret that would eventually draw the attention of India’s premier narcotics agency and shake the foundations of India’s fight against cyber-enabled drug trafficking. He reportedly used TAILS OS (a security-focused operating system that leaves no digital footprint), encrypted storage devices, cryptocurrency wallets, and multiple email aliases to cover his tracks. Authorities estimate that the syndicate carried out over 700 transactions, with street values running into ₹5 to ₹10 crore. 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.
