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Context:

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) said its Kochi zonal unit busted “India’s most prolific darknet drug syndicate” operating under the name “Ketamelon”.

Background:

On July 2, 2025, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) announced a breakthrough in its ongoing crackdown on darknet-based drug trafficking. Under Operation MELON, the NCB’s Kochi Zonal Unit arrested a Kerala-based individual known online as Ketamelon, identified as India's only “Level 4” darknet vendor—the highest rating for India’s clandestine online drug suppliers.

What Was Seized:

• 1,127 LSD blots and 66 g of ketamine, with a street value estimated at ₹35.12 lakh.
• Approximately ₹70 lakh in cryptocurrency, including USDT in hardware wallets and wallets on Binance.
• Digital evidence: TAILS OS pen drives, hard drives, multiple crypto wallets—tools commonly used to maintain anonymity on darknet forums.

Modus Operandi

• International sourcing: Drugs sourced from a UK-based seller called “Gunga Din”, associated with the notorious global LSD supplier known as “Dr Seuss” or “Tribe Seuss”.
• Domestic distribution: Over 14 months, around 600 consignments were intercepted across cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Patna, Bhopal, and Himachal–Uttarakhand

Significance of the Bust

• National-level impact: Marks one of India’s largest darknet drug syndicate busts, echoing 2023’s “Zambada” case but distinguished by Ketamelon being a "Level 4" — the most prolific Indian darknet vendor.
• Sophisticated concealment: Use of encrypted OS (TAILS), multiple crypto-wallets, and global darknet network indicates high technical capability.
• Transnational linkages: Direct procurement from international darknet suppliers emphasizes global integration of India's illicit drug market.

Policy and Enforcement Insights

• Strengthening postal monitoring: Seizures via postal channels highlight the strategic oversight of international mail for contraband.
• Digital forensics: Successful tracing through cryptocurrency and encrypted devices underscores a shift toward cyber-centred law enforcement.
• Integrated approach: Coordination across technical surveillance, forensic units, and postal intelligence was critical in dismantling the operation.

Challenges Ahead

• Deep anonymity: Erasure of visible digital footprints via darknet tools and crypto wallets continues to hinder investigations.
• Blockchain barriers: Tracking crypto flows, especially across decentralized or offshore wallets, remains complex.
• Scale and reach: Recovering drugs is one aspect; dismantling distribution networks and locating users nationwide is a larger challenge.

Operation MELON represents a significant and timely success in India’s fight against darknet-facilitated drug trafficking. The bust of “Ketamelon”—a Level 4 darknet vendor—underscores the evolving sophistication of narcotics syndicates, combining tech-savvy concealment with global supply chains.

The NCB’s ability to adapt with coordinated postal surveillance, digital forensics, and crypto-tracing signals progress, but also highlights persistent vulnerabilities. Sustained vigilance, enhanced cybercriminal expertise, and expanded inter-agency cooperation are essential to prevent recurrence and achieve a drug‑resilient India.

ALSO READ- https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/ketamine

Source: Indian Express