In a case that has shocked authorities and digital security experts alike, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has uncovered India’s largest dark web drug syndicate, run by a 29-year-old man from Kerala. The syndicate, which went by the name “Ketamelon”, used the dark web to sell drugs like LSD and Ketamine across the country.
The bust has not only revealed the vast scale of online narcotics trading in India but also raised urgent concerns about the security challenges posed by the hidden corners of the internet.
A Hidden World on the Internet
The dark web is a secretive part of the internet that cannot be accessed through regular browsers. It uses special software like Tor to hide users’ identities and locations. While it was originally created for secure communication, it is now widely used for illegal activities, including the sale of drugs, weapons, and counterfeit documents.
Dark web marketplaces often work like e-commerce sites. Buyers choose from a range of illegal products, pay using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, and have items discreetly shipped to their homes via courier services. Over the years, several large drug markets have operated on the dark web, but authorities around the world have struggled to shut them down completely.
The Rise and Fall of ‘Ketamelon’
At the center of the case is Edison Babu, a mechanical engineer from Muvattupuzha, a town in Kerala’s Ernakulam district. Edison, who had earlier worked in Bengaluru and Pune before returning to his hometown, reportedly turned to the dark web two years ago after facing financial struggles.
Under the alias “Ketamelon”, Edison ran a sophisticated drug business. He sourced LSD from a UK-based vendor known as “Gunga Din” and sold it across India using international and domestic couriers. Over the span of 14 months, the syndicate shipped around 600 parcels to cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, Patna, Bhopal, Delhi, and parts of Himachal Pradesh.
Authorities estimate that the syndicate carried out over 700 transactions, with street values running into ₹5 to ₹10 crore. Prices for LSD blotters ranged from ₹2,500 to ₹4,000 each. The operation came to light after NCB intercepted three suspicious packages in Kochi on June 28. A subsequent raid on Edison’s residence uncovered 1,127 LSD blotters, 131 grams of Ketamine, and cryptocurrency wallets holding about ₹70 lakh.
Kerala Police’s Cyber Battle Plan
Kerala Police has been actively upgrading its cybercrime detection capabilities to counter growing threats on the dark web. The state’s Cyber Dome project, a specialized cyber intelligence wing, uses a team of cybersecurity experts, ethical hackers, and artificial intelligence tools to monitor illegal activities online.
A key addition to this strategy is “Grapnel”, an AI-based software tool designed to track activities on the dark web in real time. Grapnel scans and indexes hidden websites and forums, flagging potential threats such as drug sales, child exploitation content, counterfeit currency, and hacking services.
The police confirmed that Grapnel and Cyber Dome’s expanded surveillance network had already identified at least 25 other suspected dark web traffickers in Kerala earlier this year. The success of the Ketamelon bust is being seen as a direct result of these improved cyber intelligence operations.
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A Wake-up Call for India’s Cyber Security Forces
The Ketamelon case has highlighted both the opportunities and dangers of modern technology. While digital anonymity has opened new doors for crime, it has also forced law enforcement agencies to adopt cutting-edge methods to stay ahead.
NCB officials described Edison’s setup as highly professional. He reportedly used TAILS OS (a security-focused operating system that leaves no digital footprint), encrypted storage devices, cryptocurrency wallets, and multiple email aliases to cover his tracks.
Officials believe that the case is just the tip of the iceberg. As dark web crimes grow in scale and complexity, experts warn that India needs to invest more in digital forensics, inter-agency coordination, and public awareness campaigns to keep the internet safe.