Mumbai: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in one of the largest LSD drug haul in India in recent times have seized 14,961 LSD blots. A total of six active members of the syndicate were arrested in simultaneous raids all over India at locations in Maharashtra, Delhi, NCR, Rajasthan, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh having linkages with source countries including USA, Netherlands, Poland etc.
Educated youth and tech savvy professionals, students who use Darknet/ Social media/ Cryptocurrencies/ Couriers & India Post for trafficking of drugs are all involved in the syndicate, agency officials said.
NCB's SIT operation
According to Deputy Director General (NCB), Gyaneshwar Singh, information from various sources were received regarding a nexus of vendors operating on dark-web indulged in supply and sale of drugs (primarily LSD) across the country. Working on the same, the mode of operations was identified to be misusing the courier and postal service channels. To track and bust this nexus/syndicate, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted by NCB and the team started intensive technical and field surveillance operations through cyber patrolling of social media sites.
May 29 haul
"Further, based on the field inputs, the SIT on May 29 apprehended another youth (Delhi resident) with 15 blots of LSD, which he was trying to courier to a Kashmir based recipient. Based on the spot interrogation, the SIT went for his house search where 650 additional blots of LSD were recovered. After multiple attempts to mislead the SIT, he finally confessed to be working for a Delhi based woman active with a virtual id. The woman was apprehended on the same day from her residence. Although, no recoveries in terms of quantity could be made from the woman’s possession however, based on her disclosures, a major dark web based drug vendor operating with a virtual identity whom she identified as her accomplice from Jaipur, Rajasthan," the official said.
Syndicate members arrested after info from accomplice
On the woman's disclosure, this accomplice was apprehended from Jaipur and arrested by the SIT on May 30. During the search of his premises, 9006 LSD blots, 2.232 kilogram of High quality curated marijuana (imported Ganja) and drug proceeds of Rs 4.65 lakh in cash, were also recovered.
"This Jaipur based youth further in his disclosure informed that he had ordered these LSD blots for commercial supply on Dark Web/WICKR and one such Large consignment of LSD is already in transit which is destined for Pune. The SIT was immediately dispatched to Pune and based on information collected from his digital footprints, an India Post consignment destined for Pimpri, Chinchwad was intercepted at India Post Office at MIDC, Bhosari, Pune and 5006 LSD blots were recovered. Further, in follow up action two syndicate members from Noida and one from Kerala were also apprehended with commercial quantities of LSD," said the official.
