NCB Busts Pan-India Drugs Trafficking Network Operating Through Dark Web

In one of the largest-ever seizures of LSD, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Tuesday busted a pan-India drugs trafficking network, operating through the dark web.

LSD or lysergic acid diethylamide is a synthetic chemical based-drug and is categorised as a hallucinogen.

Darknet refers to the deeply hidden internet platform that is used for narcotics sales, exchange of pornographic content, and other illegal activities by using the secret alleys of the onion router (ToR) to stay away from the surveillance of law enforcement agencies.

The development comes days after a joint operation with the Navy last month led to the confiscation of drugs worth an eye-watering Rs 25,000 crore off the coast of Kerala.

"We have arrested 6 persons in two cases and seized 15,000 bloats of LSD drug which is 2.5 thousand more than the commercial quantity. The commercial quantity of this drug is .1 gram. It's a synthetic drug and is very dangerous. It's the biggest seizure in the last 2 decades," said NCB deputy director, Gyaneshwar Singh.

"It was a huge network and was spread across Poland, Netherlands, USA, Delhi-NCR, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. They used cryptocurrency and darknet. 2.5 kg marijuana, Rs 4.65 lakh and 20 lakhs deposited in bank accounts were seized," he added.

Till now, the highest seizure of LSD was 5,000 blots by the Karnataka Police in 2021 and by the Kolkata NCB in 2022 in a single operation. LSD abuse is largely prevalent among youngsters and it can lead to serious health issues, he said.

Possession of 0.1 grams of LSD, which is the commercial quantity for the hallucinogenic drug, invites strict legal action under the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.