The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has busted a pan-India drug distribution network operating on the dark web and seized more than 2,000 patches of LSD as well as other narcotic substances, the agency said on Sunday.
Investigations revealed that the network, which has a four-star rating on the dark web, had been active since January 2025 and may have carried out more than 1,000 deliveries across the country. The network also used the session-encrypted messaging app. According to investigators, the drugs were obtained from international dark web sellers based in the Netherlands, Poland and Germany, and were then distributed across India.
“During the operation, NCB officers seized 2,338 LSD blotting papers, 160 MDMA (Ecstasy) tablets weighing 77,517 grams, 73,612 grams of cannabis, 3,642 grams of amphetamine and 3.6 kilograms of liquid MDMA from 13 parcels intercepted locally and two parcels coming from the Netherlands linked to the network,” said spokespersons. In the name of the National Central Bank: “Highlights the increasing use of dark web markets and encrypted communication platforms by drug traffickers for the distribution of narcotics and psychotropic substances.”
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) comes in the size of a common postage stamp and is easily concealed. Each LSD stain costs approx $4000 LBP $8000 depending on the quality, thickness and brand name of the paper.
LSD is a powerful hallucinogenic drug that has no colour, taste or smell. They are usually drawn or dipped in stamps and then licked or swallowed by users. This drug affects judgment and behavior, and has become increasingly popular in India in recent years, especially among young people and students.
Investigations into the case revealed that the dark web vendor named ‘Team Kalki’ was run by Anurag Thakur along with his partner Vikas Rathi. The two men had previously been arrested in cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985.
The two were lodged in New Delhi’s Tihar Jail in a drug smuggling case where they came into contact and later started running the dark drug network ‘Team Kalki’.
“Initially, the defendants were active on the dark web forum Dread where the seller’s account maintained a four-star rating, indicating the successful completion of a large number of orders. Once they established themselves on Dread, they also began operations on the encrypted session messaging app to sell and fulfill orders,” the spokesperson said.
The RBI said requests from customers across India were received through encrypted platforms such as dark web forum Dread and messaging app Session, allowing for anonymity and concealment of digital fingerprints. The shipments were sent through courier and parcel services.
“The investigation also revealed the use of the dead delivery technique, where parcels containing drugs and psychotropic substances were placed at pre-determined locations rather than being delivered directly to customers. Buyers were later informed of the location details, enabling them to collect the parcels with reduced risk of detection. The dead delivery method was only used in limited areas of Delhi, primarily for customers with a history of multiple previous orders. But for deliveries across India, the accused mostly used Speed Post and other courier or parcel services,” the spokesman said.
He added that several consignments were intercepted before delivery in Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala and Karnataka, and details of these cases are being analysed.
