These cartels collect money in various crypto wallets and then transfer it across through various layers of virtual currencies and finally receive the money in their bank accounts, an NCB officer said. To turn it on, just go to the “Settings” and then the “Tools” section of the NordVPN app and activate “Dark Web Monitoring.” In the end, it’s all about staying one step ahead. The more proactive you are, the better you can protect yourself against identity theft and other cyber threats. But these efforts of law enforcement don’t go in vain; hackers and criminals lose trust if a website or marketplace goes down. Later, in 2013, Silk Road caught the attention of law enforcement and policymakers like US Senator Charles Schumer, who publicly called for a federal crackdown. That push led to the arrest of Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road, after a long and intense investigation.
Pan-India Raid Shuts 3 Drug Markets On Darknet
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. “This was (Ketamelon) one of India’s most prolific darknet drugs syndicates.
His primary supplier was a UK-based darknet dealer known as “Gunga Din,” believed to be part of a global LSD smuggling ring. On the surface, Edison Babu seemed like any other well-educated professional from Kerala—a mechanical engineer, a family man, and a mild-mannered resident of Muvattupuzha, Ernakulam district. To his neighbors and acquaintances, he was soft-spoken and reserved, occasionally spotted taking his toddler to daycare. Yet, behind this unassuming facade lay a dark and complex secret that would eventually draw the attention of India’s premier narcotics agency and shake the foundations of India’s fight against cyber-enabled drug trafficking. He reportedly used TAILS OS (a security-focused operating system that leaves no digital footprint), encrypted storage devices, cryptocurrency wallets, and multiple email aliases to cover his tracks.
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Seventeen people were arrested, including kingpins, traffickers, white-collar criminals, two Afghan heroin processing experts and members of the alleged Jaggu Bhagwan Puria gang. The seizure in the case included about 34.5 kg of heroin, 5.5 kg morphine, 0.6 kg opium, 23.6 kg narcotics powder, acetic anhydride, bullets and magazines. Some dark web marketplaces even host content that’s not just illegal but extremely harmful, so it’s really important to understand the risks before diving in.
Common Scams And Fraudulent Activities On Darknet Markets
Breaking down the figures, the NCB reported three cases in 2020, 49 in 2021, eight in 2022, 21 in 2023, and 11 cases up until April 2024. However, the data does not specify the exact number of cases that were exclusively related to the darknet or cryptocurrency. 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. The NCB’s investigation began after intercepting 280 LSD blots from three postal parcels in Cochin on June 28, 2025.
Since 2020, India Has Recorded 92 Cases Involving The Use Of The Darknet And Cryptocurrencies For Drug Transactions
One of the most extensive illegal uses of the dark web is drug trafficking. Resembling conventional e-commerce platforms, illicit marketplaces list narcotics, post customer reviews, and promise discreet delivery. Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin are typically used for transactions to ensure user anonymity. In 2023, NCB busted the then biggest darknet-based LSD cartel named “Zambada”, and seized 29,013 blots, 472 grams of MDMA and ₹51.38 lakh in cash and arrested 14 people in different operations.
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- Once it lands on a darknet marketplace, it becomes part of the illegal weapons trade.
- It’s where international drug deals, arms sales, and illicit services are routinely brokered away from the prying eyes of law enforcement.
- BidenCash was launched in 2022, and since it became a hot spot for cybercriminals to sell and buy illegal things, including stolen card information and personal data.
- These hackers don’t hide in the shadows as much as you might think.
- By supplying stolen data, these dark web links fuel many online scams and identity theft operations, playing a critical role in the darker aspects of the internet.
“For effective investigation, three NCB officers were awarded the Union Home Minister’s Medal for Investigation,” the sources said. The Abacus Market links to the new dark web marketplace sections and took over much of the vacuum left by the AlphaBay takedown. If you ever decide to explore the dark web, protecting your identity is crucial. Most people start by using the Tor Browser, which hides your IP address. Telegram channels supplement traditional onion sites, blurring lines between the dark web sites and more mainstream communication tools. According to sources, Edison was stunned when confronted about Ketamelon.
THE VENDOR HALL OF FAME
If for any reason, you decide to visit these hidden corners of the web, ensure you at least study and understand the common traps. Getting familiar with the tactics scammers use will go a long way in helping you protect your online data and assets. Too-good-to-be-true investment offers are another classic scam on the dark web. Early participants may see some profit, but that money usually comes from new victims, not actual earnings.
Abacus Market
Since then, he has dedicated his career to writing extensively about crucial infosec, data privacy, and cybersecurity topics. When he’s not empowering PrivacySavvy’s readers to take control of their online security, Saheed enjoys distance running, playing chess, and exploring the latest open-source software advancements. And, of course, think twice before sharing too much personal details online. Even the smallest details about you can be useful to cybercriminals. That all is for general internet activities, you can guess how crucial having a VPN is when you hop onto something like the dark web. Imagine trusting a site where you’ve been buying or selling for months, and everything seems legit.
In the end, he was sentenced to life in prison for running one of the largest and most scandalous dark web cases in history. The anonymity and lack of rules that define darknet marketplaces are exactly what make them breeding grounds for fraudulent activities. Of course, the promise of secrecy and unfiltered access might lure you in, but those same features are what make the environment so risky.
It’s been a constant back-and-forth between cybercriminals and law enforcement, with each new site trying to be smarter and more secure than the last. In 2019, there were approximately 8,400 active sites on the dark web, selling thousands of products and services daily. For instance, cybercriminals can buy credit card details with a $5,000 balance for just $110.
Acting swiftly, they raided the suspect’s residence on June 29, uncovering a further 847 LSD blots, Ketamine and a trove of digital evidence. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), the nodal agency on drug law enforcement matters, booked three of such dark net and crypto-related cases in 2020, 49 in 2021, eight in 2022, 21 in 2023 and 11 until April 2024. 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. The investigation confirmed that “Ketamelon” held a Level 4 vendor status—the highest tier in India—actively operating for two years.
“In continued operations, it was learnt that the largest cartel operating in LSD on the darknet – Zambada- operates from Delhi-NCR,” Singh said. “Two of the ground operators of this cartel were identified through technical and human surveillance and this led to the location of the ‘mastermind’ of this cartel who was operating from Ballabgarh (Faridabad) in Haryana,” he said. 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.
