The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is preparing to seek custody of a man believed to be the kingpin of India&rsquo;s largest darknet drug syndicate, following the arrest of two individuals in a major crackdown.
One of the accused, a 35-year-old engineer named Edison, who had been residing in the small Kerala town of Muvattupuzha, is currently in judicial custody.
The NCB plans to approach the court to obtain his custodial interrogation. His associate, whose identity has not yet been revealed, is also in judicial custody.
The arrests followed the interception of three suspicious postal parcels on 28 June. Acting swiftly, the agency launched an operation codenamed &ldquo;MELON&rdquo; and raided Edison&rsquo;s residence the next day.
During the search, officials seized 847 LSD blots and 131.66 grams of ketamine, with an estimated street value of approximately ₹35 lakh.
According to NCB sources, Edison is suspected to be the most prominent active darknet drug vendor in the country and the only known &lsquo;Level 4&rsquo; vendor in India&mdash;signifying a high-volume, high-trust profile on darknet marketplaces. He had reportedly been under NCB surveillance for some time.
The operation resulted in the seizure of a total of 1,127 LSD blots, 131.66 grams of ketamine, and cryptocurrency assets worth ₹70 lakh. Investigators believe Edison had established an extensive distribution network, dispatching drugs to cities including Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Bhopal, Patna, and areas in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
Over the past 18 months, he is alleged to have sent more than 600 consignments across the country.
LSD blots, each priced between ₹2,500 and ₹4,000, were among the primary items trafficked.
Residents of Muvattupuzha expressed shock at the revelations. &ldquo;We only knew Edison as someone engaged in some sort of business. This news has come as a complete surprise,&rdquo; said a neighbour.
NCB officials are now preparing to take Edison into custody for further interrogation, which may help uncover deeper networks and digital trails behind the growing threat of darknet-based drug trafficking in India.
&nbsp;(Apart from the headline, this article has not been edited by Benefit News editorial team and is published from an IANS news feed.)

NCB team seized drugs (representative image)

Kerala engineer nabbed as India’s biggest darknet drug vendor; LSD, ketamine seized

NCB Cracks Down on Darknet Drug Syndicate

Kerala engineer nabbed as India’s biggest darknet drug vendor; LSD, ketamine seized

July 2, 2025 | 15:50 IST