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. 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. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has busted the country’s largest darknet-based Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) smuggling syndicate named “Zambada cartel” with the arrest of three accused persons.
Exodus Marketplace
Later in 2022, the US Naval Research Laboratory built on Freenet’s idea to create a secure and encrypted network for sensitive communications, which was later released to the public as open-source software. If you’re using a browser like Tor and visiting .onion websites that aren’t accessible through regular search engines or browsers, you’re likely on the dark web. These sites often look basic or outdated, and their URLs are lengthy strings of random letters and numbers. Keep in mind that visiting the dark web isn’t illegal, but engaging in criminal activity there is.
In 2023, the agency dismantled “Zambada,” then considered the largest LSD cartel in India, seizing over 29,000 LSD blots, 472 grams of MDMA, ₹51.38 lakh in cash, and arresting 14 individuals. Zambada was known for having a rare 5-star vendor rating in India and was reportedly in coordination with Dr Seuss to expand operations. According to investigators, Ketamelon derived its name from its early operations involving ketamine smuggling.
India’s Biggest Darknet Drug Bust: Know What LSD And Ketamine Really Do To Your Brain And Body
- As we mentioned earlier, not everything sold on dark web markets is illegal.
- Earlier in 2023, NCB busted the then biggest darknet based LSD cartel named “Zambada”, seizing 29,013 blots of LSD, 472 grams of MDMA & Rs.51.38 Lakh cash and arrested 14 persons out of which main kingpins are under judicial custody.
- Believe it or not, some dark web marketplaces have pretty advanced systems for building trust.
- Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin are typically used for transactions to ensure user anonymity.
- Anything from planting malware and stealing sensitive files to hijacking email accounts or breaking into social media profiles.
- Perhaps most shocking to the community was the revelation that Edison Babu had maintained an utterly normal family life.
Never log in with your real name or reuse passwords from other accounts. Stick to cryptocurrency, avoid downloading anything, and don’t share any personal info. It’s been a constant back-and-forth between cybercriminals and law enforcement, with each new site trying to be smarter and more secure than the last. In 2019, there were approximately 8,400 active sites on the dark web, selling thousands of products and services daily. For instance, cybercriminals can buy credit card details with a $5,000 balance for just $110. The Tribune, now published from Chandigarh, started publication on February 2, 1881, in Lahore (now in Pakistan).
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The investigation confirmed that “Ketamelon” held a Level 4 vendor status—the highest tier in India—actively operating for two years. The name originated from the vendor’s early involvement in Ketamine smuggling. Drugs were sourced from Gunga Din, a UK-based vendor affiliated with “Dr Seuss” or “Tribe Seuss”, the world’s most notorious LSD supplier. Investigators discovered that the racket was run by Muvattupuzha native Edison. The group used Monero (XMR), a privacy-focused cryptocurrency popular in illegal transactions. This article reveals the top 10 dark web markets dominating in 2025, their unique characteristics, and the critical implications for enterprise cybersecurity.
What Do People Sell Or Exchange On Darknet Markets?
These software are also capable of launching DDoS attacks and phishing campaigns. On the dark web, you don’t need to be a technical expert to design ransomware, and that’s dangerous. Even people with little to no knowledge can buy ready-made ransomware and launch attacks on their victims. If for any reason, you decide to visit these hidden corners of the web, ensure you at least study and understand the common traps. Getting familiar with the tactics scammers use will go a long way in helping you protect your online data and assets. Too-good-to-be-true investment offers are another classic scam on the dark web.
- In Ludhiana, the NCB has also busted a “basket” case having international drug racket links in Dubai, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
- Kerala Police has been actively upgrading its cybercrime detection capabilities to counter growing threats on the dark web.
- In conclusion, the unraveling of India’s most prolific darknet drug syndicate using Monero provides critical lessons in the ongoing contest between cybercrime and cybersecurity.
- In 2023, NCB busted the then biggest darknet-based LSD cartel named “Zambada”, and seized 29,013 blots, 472 grams of MDMA and ₹51.38 lakh in cash and arrested 14 people in different operations.
- According to a senior NCB officer, the agency, after weeks of intelligence gathering, intercepted three postal parcels in Cochin on June 28, containing 280 LSD blots.
This can be stopped if law enforcement agencies can break any link, particularly dark web marketplaces, in the chain. Hence, it should be the top priority to track these platforms and shut them down as quickly as possible. BidenCash was launched in 2022, and since it became a hot spot for cybercriminals to sell and buy illegal things, including stolen card information and personal data. However, in June 2025, BidenCash’s relevant domains (around 145) were seized by the US Department of Justice. Just as there are new entrants, the dark web has its veteran markets too, and Brian’s Club is one such market.
Explicit And Illegal Content
Its origins can be traced back to the 1990s, through research funded by the United States Department of Defense. The aim was to develop an encrypted communication network for intelligence operatives. This initiative evolved into the Tor network, now used globally—for both legitimate and illegal activities. The estimated street value of the seized drugs is about Rs 35.12 lakh with LSD blots being priced in a range of Rs 2,500-Rs 4,000 each, as per the statement. Some custodial wallets on crypto platforms like Binance have been identified for further investigation, it said.
Today’s cybercriminals spread their activities across multiple platforms, making them harder to track and shut down. NCB officials confirmed that ‘Ketamelon’ was India’s only Level 4 darknet vendor — a top-tier status in India — operating actively over the past two years. According to a senior NCB officer, the agency, after weeks of intelligence gathering, intercepted three postal parcels in Cochin on June 28, containing 280 LSD blots.
Darknet Drug Trafficking: Govt Forms Special Task Force To Combat Cases Involving Cryptocurrency & Darknet
Prior to the Ketamelon bust, the NCB in 2023 dismantled the country’s largest LSD cartel at the time—Zambada. That operation led to the seizure of 29,013 LSD blots, 472 grams of MDMA, ₹51.38 lakh in cash, and the arrest of 14 individuals. The cartel operated from Delhi NCR and had a consistent 5-star rating on the darknet. Launched after the takedown of AlphaBay in 2021, Abacus Market has rapidly risen to prominence. It features over 40,000 listings including narcotics, counterfeit items, hacking tools, and stolen data. The marketplace is well-known for its bug bounty programs and robust security mechanisms, including mandatory 2FA.
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New software tools have been developed under cyber experts’ guidance to track and apprehend individuals involved in these transactions. Given the explosive growth of these markets, organizations must prioritize proactive threat monitoring. Axis Intelligence provides dark web surveillance solutions that help businesses identify leaked credentials, fraud attempts, and malware risks before they escalate. The name of this particular syndicate is derived from the vendor’s early involvement in Ketamine smuggling, as per the agency. In the present case, Gupta said that once the orders were received on darknet, the LSD blots were sent to buyers through couriers.
Is There A Future For Dark Web Marketplaces?
Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. Privacy coins “operate on an immutable ledger,” meaning “evidence of criminal transactions will exist forever,” he said. The NCB, the officials said, is trying to freeze the crypto funds too. ‘Zambada’ intended to open an Indian ‘outlet’ of Dr Seuss with a minimum stock of one lakh LSD blots.
The bust highlights the growing sophistication of tech-enabled drug networks and the need for advanced cyber surveillance and inter-agency coordination. LSD or lysergic acid diethylamide is a synthetic chemical based-drug and is categorised as a hallucinogen. Dark web markets have exploded in scale and reach in 2025, becoming the most dangerous hubs for trading drugs, stolen data, and hacking tools.
The first category includes classic marketplaces, which serve as one-stop shops for a wide range of illegal goods. These platforms sell everything from drugs and fake IDs to weapons and hacking tools, resembling a digital black-market bazaar. The current bust comes nearly two years after NCB dismantled the notorious ‘Zambada’ darknet cartel, the then largest in the country, which had ties to the same international LSD network. Zambada had a five-star rating in darknet marketplaces and was based out of Delhi-NCR. Under the identity “Ketamelon,” he received orders on numerous darknet markets, communicated in encryption, and shipped drugs via India’s postal and courier networks.
The seizure in the case included about 34.5 kg of heroin, 5.5 kg morphine, 0.6 kg opium, 23.6 kg narcotics powder, acetic anhydride, bullets and magazines. Some dark web marketplaces even host content that’s not just illegal but extremely harmful, so it’s really important to understand the risks before diving in. Others are looking for stolen data, hacking services, or even banned books and political content. For sellers, it’s often about making money while staying off the radar.
