Why in news?
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) announced that it had dismantled a pan‑India drug distribution network operating under the code name “Team Kalki”. The operation, which involved monitoring darknet marketplaces and intercepting parcels, is regarded as one of the country’s most significant crackdowns on online drug trafficking.
Background
The NCB began tracking the network in early 2025 following reports that large quantities of synthetic drugs were being delivered to Indian customers via anonymous online platforms. The suspects used encrypted messaging apps and darknet forums to advertise and sell LSD, MDMA (Ecstasy), charas and amphetamines. Payments were laundered through cryptocurrency wallets.
Details of the operation
- Seizures: Investigators intercepted 13 domestic parcels and two parcels from the Netherlands, recovering more than 2,300 LSD blots, 160 MDMA tablets, several grams of amphetamine and about 3.6 kg of liquid MDMA. The international street value of the seized drugs was estimated at around ₹5 crore.
- Modus operandi: The network used darknet marketplaces such as Dread and the Session messaging app to communicate with customers. Orders were paid for in cryptocurrency and delivered via India Post Speed Post or private couriers. In some cases the traffickers employed “dead‑drop” techniques, leaving packages at pre‑arranged locations rather than handing them over directly.
- Scale and arrests: According to officials, Team Kalki is suspected to have shipped more than 1,000 consignments since January 2025. Two habitual offenders, Anurag Thakur and Vikas Rathi, were arrested. Electronic devices and a cryptocurrency wallet were seized as evidence.
- Past operations: The NCB noted that the latest bust follows earlier operations named Zambada (2023) and Ketamelon (2025), which similarly targeted darknet‑enabled drug rings.
Implications
The case illustrates how narcotics traffickers are increasingly exploiting anonymous online platforms, encrypted communications and cryptocurrencies to evade law enforcement. It also underscores the importance of international cooperation, as many consignments originated from Europe. The NCB aims to build on this success to disrupt other networks and raise public awareness about the risks associated with synthetic drugs.
Source: The Tribune · News on Air
