India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has achieved a significant breakthrough in its battle against drug trafficking. In a single operation, they have conducted the largest-ever seizure of LSD blots. The NCB successfully dismantled an international drug trafficking network operating on the darknet and apprehended six individuals, all between the ages of 25 and 28. The seized LSD blots amounted to 15,000 units valued at over Rs. 10 crores.
The arrested individuals, primarily students and young people, were enticed by the promise of quick and anonymous money through encrypted platforms like WICKR. LSD, a powerful hallucinogenic drug, is typically consumed by licking or swallowing small paper blots.
Gyaneshwar Singh, Deputy Director General (Northern Region) of the NCB, hailed the operation as a significant milestone, surpassing any previous LSD bust in India. The blots, originating from Poland and the Netherlands, were distributed across various states using cryptocurrency and UPI for transactions, and smuggling was facilitated through couriers and postal networks.
Apart from the record-breaking LSD seizure, the NCB also confiscated 2.32 kilograms of ganja (marijuana) and Rs 4.65 lakh in cash. Furthermore, they froze bank deposits totalling Rs 20 lakh. The agency is actively working to identify and freeze cryptocurrency funds associated with the drug trafficking network.
This operation underscores the NCB’s unwavering commitment to combating drug trafficking, particularly on the darknet. The arrested individuals are educated and conduct their activities solely online, avoiding any personal interactions. This success follows a similar darknet-based drug trafficking case in 2021 that led to the arrest of 40 individuals involved in illicit trade.
