“Criminals may operate in the shadows of the darknet and use privacy coins thinking they’re invisible, but they inevitably leave digital traces. By leveraging advanced analytics and working hand-in-hand with investigators and other stakeholders, we helped trace and freeze those illicit funds. Binance remains committed to proactively supporting such operations to ensure bad actors are brought to justice and to keep the crypto ecosystem safe for everyone,” said Nils Andersen-Röed, Global Head of Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), Binance. Binance’s compliance and investigations teams performed critical roles in transforming blockchain transparency into enforcement. Binance’s intelligence bridged significant gaps between digital trails and on-ground authorities. This assistance not only allowed for the identification of suspects, but also demonstrated how law enforcement and industry can work together to dismantle tech-enabled criminal activities.
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The suspect had allegedly been operating as the country’s only ‘Level 4’ darknet vendor under the moniker “Ketamelon” for the past two years, according to reports in local media. 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. In September 2022, the Hyderabad police had arrested eight people, following which the name of “Zambada” cartel had come up. The man running the operations in India was in close contact with a darknet operator named Dr. Seuss aka DS, TS (Tribe Seuss) and Gamma Goblin, who is allegedly the largest source of LSD across the globe. The NCB has been closely tracking cryptocurrency payments linked to the purchase of narcotics as part of its broader strategy to curb drug trafficking in the country.
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- It has an active forum and community along with an extensive user vetting process.
- The estimated street value of the seized drugs is about ₹35.12 lakh, with LSD blots priced at ₹2,500-₹4,000 each.
- Monero is a privacy-centric crypto designed to mask transaction details, making it a preferred payment method for darknet drug dealers and cybercriminals.
- It has ‘outlets’ in the UK, USA, South Africa, Canada, Russia, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Turkey, according to DDG Singh.
- The Ketamelon cartel was originally involved in Ketamine smuggling but transitioned to LSD in recent years.
Launched in 2020, Cypher Marketplace sells fraudulent documents, stolen credit cards, fake IDs, and malware. Its emphasis on user anonymity and document forgery makes it a core tool for identity fraud. This article reveals the top 10 dark web markets dominating in 2025, their unique characteristics, and the critical implications for enterprise cybersecurity. “The name derives from the vendor’s (arrested accused) 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,” Neeraj Gupta, deputy director general of NCB, said.
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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. Drugs were primarily sourced from a UK-based vendor, Gunga Din, a known re-shipper of the globally infamous Dr Seuss (aka DS or Tribe Seuss), believed to be the largest LSD source in the world. It exposes the vulnerabilities in existing postal monitoring, the challenge of policing privacy-focused cryptocurrencies, and the increasing technical sophistication of domestic drug traffickers. Unlike previous drug busts that focused on street-level dealers or bulk smugglers, this operation had to contend with an adversary leveraging encryption, digital anonymity, and decentralized finance.
New software tools have been developed under cyber experts’ guidance to track and apprehend individuals involved in these transactions. In response to a rise in dark web dealings, particularly drug-related, Kerala Police has intensified cyber patrolling. A dedicated wing within the state’s Cyber Dome has been deployed exclusively to monitor dark web transactions. “For effective investigation, three NCB officers were awarded the Union Home Minister’s Medal for Investigation,” the sources said.
These statistics were presented in response to parliamentary questions from opposition MP Jose K. Mani, who inquired about the increasing use of technology in drug trafficking activities. This came a day after Punjab Police seized a huge amount of drugs in a major operation to crackdown on cross-border narcotics smuggling. Darknet drug vendors are ranked from 1 to 5 stars based on the potency of drugs sold and customer satisfaction, similar to e-commerce platforms. NCB officials confirmed that ‘Ketamelon’ was India’s only Level 4 darknet vendor — a top-tier status in India — operating actively over the past two years. According to a senior NCB officer, the agency, after weeks of intelligence gathering, intercepted three postal parcels in Cochin on June 28, containing 280 LSD blots.
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 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. According to NCB investigations, Babu had quietly established a digital-first narcotics business.
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The syndicate, which went by the name “Ketamelon”, used the dark web to sell drugs like LSD and Ketamine across the country. It is odourless, colourless, and tasteless, and can be painted onto small paper pieces that users lick or swallow. The estimated street value of the seized drugs is about ₹35.12 lakh, with LSD blots priced at ₹2,500-₹4,000 each. Treasury Department sanctioned Russian hosting provider Aeza Group, accusing it of facilitating ransomware attacks and darknet drug markets that targeted victims worldwide. Edison allegedly sourced drugs from global suppliers, laundered proceeds via privacy coin Monero (XMR), and shipped narcotics to cities across India. 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.
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The estimated street value of the seized drugs is approximately Rs 35.12 lakh, with LSD blots priced at Rs 2,500-4,000 each. 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. “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 months. “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 operation seized over 1,100 Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) blots, 131 grams of Ketamine and cryptocurrency worth Rs 70 lakh in a coordinated operation codenamed ‘MELON’.
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The state’s Cyber Dome project, a specialized cyber intelligence wing, uses a team of cybersecurity experts, ethical hackers, and artificial intelligence tools to monitor illegal activities online. 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. Buyers choose from a range of illegal products, pay using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, and have items discreetly shipped to their homes via courier services.
It features over 40,000 listings including narcotics, counterfeit items, hacking tools, and stolen data. The marketplace is well-known for its bug bounty programs and robust security mechanisms, including mandatory 2FA. Launched in September 2022, Torzon Market operates on the Tor network and features over 11,600 illegal products, including drugs and hacking tools.
LSD 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 seizure highlights the deep web’s evolving threat and the NCB’s enhanced cyber and financial surveillance capabilities,” the officer said. The NCB officer said that the arrested individual had established a sophisticated system of sourcing, distribution and payment via cryptocurrency. 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. 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. To assist in this mission for a drug-free India, NCB has requested public cooperation.
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. A Canadian market established in 2021, WTN offers over 9,000 products, including narcotics, fake goods, and digital services. It operates in both French and English and has built a reputation for ease-of-use.
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Acting swiftly, they raided the suspect’s residence on June 29, uncovering a further 847 LSD blots, Ketamine and a trove of digital evidence. NCB sources said that the ‘darknet,’ operating under the veil of the digital world, had provided a new haven for drug traffickers. Overcoming these challenges led to the success of ‘Operation Melon.’ Edison is identified as the chief orchestrator and seller within this network. LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), a hallucinogenic substance, causes altered perceptions. Often painted on small paper squares, it is tasteless, odourless, and colourless. Users report sensing colours or hearing sounds, often accompanied by intense emotions and distorted perception of space and time.
“Due to intensified vigilance and improved coordination, drug seizures have exponentially increased in India in the last few years,” the home minister said on Twitter. The agency noted that while Kerala typically sees fewer than 1,000 LSD blots seized annually, Edison was allegedly distributing around 10,000 LSD blots across the country each month. 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. Garcia, according to the NCB, declared on the darknet after this interdiction in India that he was safe and will never be caught. Garcia is stated to be in ‘close contact’ with a darknet operator called Dr Seuss alias DS and TS (Tribe Seuss) or Gamma Goblin- who is the largest source of LSD across the globe.
An operation was launched on April 19, which led to the detection of the second largest cartel with the seizure of about 15,000 LSD blots, 44 gm of MDMA and seizure/freezing of drug money amounting to ₹24.65 lakh. According to the NCB, Ketamelon operated as a Level 4 darknet vendor, the highest rating on a five-star scale, based on the potency of the drugs it distributed and the quality of its customer service. The cartel primarily dealt in LSD, which it sourced from international darknet wholesalers. In the 14 months leading up to the arrest, the group is believed to have shipped approximately 600 drug packages to cities across India, including Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, and regions in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand 1.
