NCB busts narcotics network that dealt on DarkNet, used cryptocurrency

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has busted an international criminal gang that dealt in drugs using DarkNet and cryptocurrency with linkages in several countries as well as multiple States in India,” sources said. “The bureau is carrying out operations against drug cartels under the direct supervision of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, pursuant to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to put an end to narcotics trade in the country,” they said.

“The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has busted an international criminal gang that dealt in drugs using DarkNet and cryptocurrency with linkages in several countries as well as multiple States in India,” sources said.

“The bureau is carrying out operations against drug cartels under the direct supervision of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, pursuant to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to put an end to narcotics trade in the country,” they said.

“The gang had linkages in the U.S., Netherlands and Canada, and in States of West Bengal, Gujarat, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Assam,” the sources said.

“It was busted in an operation that detected and dismantled the drug market on the Darknet and on social media run by anonymous and professional traffickers, and home delivery network,” they said.

“The modus operandi of the drug traffickers included the use of Darknet, cryptocurrency, digital media, UPIs and fake KYC documents as well as post and courier services,” the sources said.

“Consequent to strategic and operational planning, during the operation, spanning over 11 months, 47 cases were registered, 40 people arrested and a variety of drugs and cash seized by the NCB in 2021-22,” they said.

The highlight of the operation was the coordination with foreign drug liaison officers, and excellent coordination among various zonal units of the NCB and State police forces for simultaneous operations, the sources said. National Disaster Response Force divers were also used for retrieving crucial evidence from deep waters.