NCB’s Successful Crackdown on Cryptocurrency-Fueled Drug Trafficking
In a groundbreaking operation, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has achieved its largest-ever LSD seizure, confiscating over 15,000 blots of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and dismantling a pan-India drug trafficking network. The operation, conducted in collaboration with international law enforcement agencies, exposed the utilization of cryptocurrency and the dark web in drug transactions. This significant breakthrough follows the NCB’s recent successes in intercepting a massive methamphetamine shipment worth ₹25,000 crore from Pakistan, routed through Iran.
The LSD seizure, carried out in a single operation, signifies a substantial blow to the drug trade in India. Deputy Director General of the NCB, Gyaneshwar Singh, addressed reporters, highlighting the modus operandi employed by the trafficking network. He emphasized that this network operated primarily through the dark web, a hidden section of the internet where illegal items, banned content, and criminal activities are prevalent. The virtual nature of their dealings, coupled with the use of cryptocurrency and crypto wallets for payments, ensured minimal physical contact between buyers and sellers.
The network’s operations spanned across multiple countries, including Poland, the Netherlands, the United States, and various states within India, such as Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh. Alongside the massive LSD haul, law enforcement officials also seized 2.5 kg of marijuana and recovered currency worth ₹24.65 lakh.
To evade detection, the LSD blots were ingeniously concealed on half a stamp-sized piece of paper. Singh compared these blots to revenue stamps, explaining that each blot could be consumed by an individual, typically by swallowing it. The small size of the blots made it incredibly challenging to hide and smuggle the drug. Traffickers would often conceal the LSD blots between regular documents or parcels, making them harder to trace for authorities. Singh further revealed that the threshold for possession of a commercial quantity of LSD is 0.1 gram, and the amount recovered in this operation exceeded that threshold by over 2,500 times.
This recent accomplishment by the NCB follows the record-breaking seizure of methamphetamine in May. A joint operation between the NCB and the Navy resulted in the confiscation of drugs valued at an astounding ₹25,000 crore off the coast of Kerala. Over 2,500 kg of high-grade methamphetamine, concealed in one-kilogram packets spread across 134 sacks, was discovered. Officials explained that the exceptional value of the haul was due to the superior quality of the seized drugs. Investigations revealed that the drugs had been routed through Iran’s Chabahar Port, with their source traced back to Pakistan.
During this operation, the NCB apprehended a Pakistani national named Zubair Derakshshandeh, who confessed to working for a Pakistan-based trafficker. Derakshshandeh claimed that he had been promised a substantial monetary reward for his involvement in the drug transportation.
The NCB’s recent successes also include a significant seizure in April. After a meticulous two-week operation in Goa, the agency dismantled a multi-drug cartel, resulting in the arrest of three individuals, including two Russian nationals. In addition to drugs, foreign currencies, and counterfeit identification documents were seized during the operation.
The NCB’s relentless efforts in combating drug trafficking, their strategic partnerships with International agencies, and their effective utilization of advanced techniques and technologies have been instrumental in these breakthroughs. These recent operations not only demonstrate the agency’s commitment to eradic
