Yet behind this facade, Edison — known by the codename ‘Ketamelon’ online — was allegedly trafficking LSD blotters, ketamine, and cryptocurrency valued at around Rs 1 crore. His primary supplier was a UK-based darknet dealer known as “Gunga Din,” believed to be part of a global LSD smuggling ring. Working largely alone, he ascended to the highest vendor level on the darknet—“Level-4,” the gold standard for reliability and volume among darknet marketplaces. The bust has exposed how deeply entrenched darknet-facilitated narcotics trade has become, and officials believe more shocking revelations could follow. “This is the second-largest LSD seizure in India, after the 2023 bust of another five-star-rated darknet cartel.
NCB Arrests 22 In Darknet Drugs Network Bust After Pan-India Raids
Any person can share information related to the sale of narcotics by calling the MANAS- National Narcotics Helpline Toll Free Number-1933. Hallucinogens change the way people sense the world around them.It is also known as acid, blots, stamps etc. Dr Seuss AKA DS and TS (Tribe Seuss) were coordinating with the kingpin of Zambada cartel with plans to open outlets in India.
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Silk Road was one of the earliest and most prominent dark web drug markets before its 2013 shutdown. Resembling conventional e-commerce platforms, illicit marketplaces list narcotics, post customer reviews, and promise discreet delivery. One of the most extensive illegal uses of the dark web is drug trafficking. To fight against drug trafficking, NCB seeks support of the citizens. LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) is a hallucinogenic drug. The arrest of Edison Babu is a testament to the effectiveness of the NCB's efforts in dismantling transnational drug trafficking networks.
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. “The name derives from the vendor’s early involvement in ketamine smuggling. “Zambada intended to open an Indian outlet of Dr. Seuss wherein he would have maintained a minimum stock of 1 lakh LSD blots.
A total of 14,961 blots were seized as part of the about two-week long operation and the blots are of "gammagoblin and holy spirit of asura" brand, Singh said. 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". "This is the "largest-ever" seizure of LSD blots in the country in a single operation. Six youngsters have been arrested till now and we are on the trail of one more such cartel," NCB deputy director general (northern region) Gyaneshwar Singh told reporters here.
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EastMojo is a digital news media platform promoting north east India news. Earlier, the NCB, in collaboration with the Navy, had foiled a massive international drug smuggling operation via the Arabian Sea. The drugs brought into Kerala were subsequently distributed by him to various parts of the country. Edison's network would order narcotics from abroad via the darknet and then smuggle them into the country through postal services. He primarily procured drugs from a seller in England known as 'Gumgadin,' indicating his deep connections with international drug syndicates, sources added. For the past two years, Edison was engaged in drug sales across various darknet markets.
To deal with the growing issue of drug trafficking through digital means, the Centre has established a Special Task Force on Darknet and cryptocurrency. During the raid, they seized more than 1,100 LSD blots and around 130 grams of ketamine. The syndicate’s digital drug den operated under the name “Ketamelon”, a nod to its ketamine-rich inventory. 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. Investigations revealed that ‘Ketamelon’ was India’s only Level 4 darknet vendor, operating actively over the past two years.
- The highlight of the operation was the coordination with foreign drug liaison officers, and excellent coordination among various zonal units of the NCB and State police forces for simultaneous operations, 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.
- India's Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has made a significant breakthrough in combating cybercrime and drug trafficking with the arrest of Edison Babu, a 35-year-old engineer from Kerala.
- In a recent bust, India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) dismantled what they called “India’s most prolific darknet drug syndicate”.
- In 2023, the agency dismantled “Zambada,” then considered the largest LSD cartel in India, seizing over 29,000 LSD blots, 472 grams of MDMA, ₹51.38 lakh in cash, and arresting 14 individuals.
NCB Op In Kochi Busts India’s Top Darknet Drug Syndicate
The estimated street value of the seized drugs is about ₹35.12 lakh, with LSD blots priced at ₹2,500-₹4,000 each. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has busted a top darknet-based drug vendor named ‘Ketamelon’, which had been operating for the past two years. 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.
The NCB’s investigation began after intercepting 280 LSD blots from three postal parcels in Cochin on June 28, 2025. All news, reviews, and analysis are produced with journalistic independence and integrity. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, Punjab recorded the most number of drug trafficking cases in India between 2020 to 2022. Rai detailed 13 plans of action against the growing problem of drug trafficking and narco-terrorism in India, two of which targeted the misuse of cryptocurrencies. According to data from NCB, the nodal drug law enforcement and intelligence agency of India, the use of cryptocurrencies in drug crimes has been inconsistent over the last five years.
Edison's operations were highly sophisticated, involving the use of advanced encryption tools and Monero's privacy features to evade detection. India's Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has made a significant breakthrough in combating cybercrime and drug trafficking with the arrest of Edison Babu, a 35-year-old engineer from Kerala. The name derives from the vendor’s early involvement in Ketamine smuggling. On examining the parcels, the NCB found 280 LSD blots. The federal agency said that following a specific intelligence, its officials from the Cochin zone on June 28 intercepted three postal parcels in Kochi, carrying 280 LSD blots.
New Delhi, Jul 1 (PTI) The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Tuesday claimed to have busted a darknet-based pan-India LSD (a type of drug) trafficking syndicate with the arrest of two persons and seizure of drugs and cryptocurrency worth about Rs one crore. Chemical drugs valued at approximately Rs 32 lakh and cryptocurrency worth Rs 70 lakh were seized from his home. The estimated street value of the seized drugs is approximately 35.12 lakhs, with LSD blots priced at 2,500-4,000 each. The estimated street value of the seized drugs is approximately ₹35.12 lakhs, with LSD blots priced at ₹2,500–₹4,000 each. The estimated street value of the seized drugs is approximately ₹35.12 lakh, with LSD blots priced at ₹2,500- ₹4,000 each,” the officer added.
The NCB’s operation against ‘Ketamelon’ is a significant step in the fight against darknet-based drug trafficking. The seized contraband drugs have an estimated street value of approximately Rs 35.12 lakhs, officials added. Under the identity “Ketamelon,” he received orders on numerous darknet markets, communicated encryptedly, and shipped drugs via India’s postal and courier networks. 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.
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But once you start doing illegal things, like buying drugs or stolen credit cards, that’s when you’re breaking the law. Some are looking for illegal stuff they can’t buy elsewhere, like drugs or counterfeit documents. It was the first big site where people could anonymously buy drugs using Bitcoin, and it gained a lot of attention, until it was shut down by the FBI in 2013.
NCB Makes India's 'Largest-Ever' LSD Seizure, Recovers 15,000 Blots Worth Rs 10 Crore
The operation represents the latest in a series of major takedowns by the NCB, which in 2023 also dismantled the Zambada cartel, India’s only 5-star-rated darknet drug vendor at the time. 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. 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. Earlier in 2023, NCB busted the then biggest darknet based LSD cartel named "Zambada", seizing 29,013 blots of LSD, 472 grams of MDMA & Rs.51.38 Lakh cash and arrested 14 persons out of which main kingpins are under judicial custody.Zambada cartel was the only cartel in the country with 5-star rating of most time in India operating from Delhi NCR. NCB had busted a similar darknet-based LSD cartel named Zambada in 2023 and it had arrested 14 persons in the case apart from seizing 29,013 LSD blots, 472 grams of MDMA and ₹51.38 lakh in cash.
Over roughly 14 months, he processed and shipped over 600 drug consignments to customers across India, earning a reputation for reliability and discretion. It’s where international drug deals, arms sales, and illicit services are routinely brokered away from the prying eyes of law enforcement. The darknet—the encrypted, unindexed part of the internet accessible only through specialized software like Tor—is a notorious hub for illegal activities. His story is a cautionary tale about how the convergence of technology, anonymity, and criminal ingenuity is transforming the landscape of the drug trade in India. A Muvattupuzha native, believed to be the kingpin, is among two people taken into custody in the high-stakes operation code-named 'Operation MELON.'
In 2023, the agency dismantled “Zambada,” then considered the largest LSD cartel in India, seizing over 29,000 LSD blots, 472 grams of MDMA, ₹51.38 lakh in cash, and arresting 14 individuals. Subsequent raids at the suspect's residence on June 29 led to the discovery of the remaining drugs and digital evidence. The high-impact operation, codenamed “MELON,” led to significant drug and digital asset seizures, exposing the scale of the network's reach and sophistication. Edison allegedly sourced drugs from global suppliers, laundered proceeds via privacy coin Monero (XMR), and shipped narcotics to cities across India. 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.
NCB Breaks India's Largest Darknet Drug Syndicate 'Ketamelon' In Massive Bust
In this search, a lot of other incriminating material including a pen drive containing a bootable KITES OS used to access darknet markets, multiple cryptocurrency wallets, hard disks with incriminating documents and most importantly, a hardware wallet holding approximately 70 lakhs worth of USDT cryptocurrency were seized. A similar darknet-based drugs trafficking racket was unearthed by the agency in 2021 leading to the arrest of 40 persons. Realising PM @narendramodi Ji's vision to create a drug-free India, the NCB team has busted an international narcotics syndicate and seized 15,000 blots of LSD drug. "This was (Ketamelon) one of India's most prolific darknet drugs syndicates. The agency launched an operation codenamed 'Melon' to investigate it after getting primary inputs from the Cochin seizure," the NCB said in a statement. “This seizure exemplifies NCB's commitment to successfully dismantle the supply of synthetic drugs facilitated via the darknet and cryptocurrency channels to accomplish the vision of a Drug-Free India,” the agency said in a statement. As per officials, Ketamelon was the only Level 4 darknet vendor operating in India, a top-tier status based on global darknet vendor rankings.
