NCB dismantles pan-India LSD network using courier, darknet channels
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has dismantled a sophisticated interstate network distributing Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) through courier services, in a coordinated operation involving its Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Kochi zonal units, the agency said.
The investigation began with the seizure of LSD blots in Chennai. Tracking backward linkages revealed that parcels containing LSD were being dispatched from Pune to various parts of the country via express courier services.
Based on intelligence and technical surveillance, NCB officers conducted a week-long operation across Chennai, Kanniyakumari and Pune, leading to the arrest of a key syndicate member responsible for receiving, repackaging and dispatching LSD consignments to customers in multiple states. The accused was intercepted while preparing parcels for dispatch to Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. The parcels were seized before delivery.
Searches at the accused's residence recovered substantial quantities of LSD and other narcotic substances. Further investigation led to the seizure of two parcels destined for Tamil Nadu and the arrest of three individuals, including a doctor and a medical college student. One parcel contained 225 LSD blots intended for distribution in Kodaikanal. Two persons managing guest houses in Kodaikanal, suspected to be associated with the syndicate, are absconding.
In total, NCB seized 2,796 LSD blots, 166 grams of a greenish substance suspected to be hydroponic cannabis, 113 Nitrazepam tablets weighing 59.89 grams, and Rs 70,000 in cash believed to be proceeds of drug trafficking.
The investigation revealed that the syndicate sourced narcotics through a darknet marketplace, where a vendor operated a personalised storefront offering LSD to buyers across India. Payments were accepted in Monero (XMR), a privacy-focused cryptocurrency designed to obscure transaction trails, avoiding financial tracing. The use of encrypted messaging, anonymity-focused cryptocurrencies and reshipping arrangements reflects a layered operational model that shields principal suppliers from detection, the NCB said.
Efforts are under way to identify the operator of the darknet vendor profile and trace associated cryptocurrency transactions, in coordination with relevant agencies.
The NCB stated that the syndicate dispatched at least 14 parcels from April 2026 onwards, indicating a well-organised and sustained interstate drug trafficking network. LSD is a potent hallucinogen posing serious mental and psychological health risks, including hallucinations, anxiety, tremors, depression and other disturbances. The NCB noted that LSD is often concealed inside documents, books, greeting cards and similar items to evade detection during transit.
The agency urged courier and logistics service providers to remain vigilant and enforce stringent Know Your Customer (KYC) norms to prevent misuse of courier channels for narcotics trafficking.
