The dark web, unlike the surface web and deep web, is a concealed part of the internet requiring specific tools such as Tor (The Onion Router) to access. While the surface web includes everyday websites and the deep web comprises password-protected platforms like banking portals, the dark web is intentionally kept anonymous.

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.

Drug trafficking thrives on dark web anonymity

One of the most extensive illegal uses of the dark web is drug trafficking. Resembling conventional e-commerce platforms, illicit marketplaces list narcotics, post customer reviews, and promise discreet delivery. Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin are typically used for transactions to ensure user anonymity.

Silk Road was one of the earliest and most prominent dark web drug markets before its 2013 shutdown. Similar platforms like Silk Road 2, Evolution, and Agora later emerged to continue this illegal trade. These operations remain a growing concern for international law enforcement—including Indian agencies—as they help traffickers evade detection while reaching global customers.

Kerala Police strengthens cyber surveillance amid dark web spike

In response to a rise in dark web dealings, particularly drug-related, Kerala Police has intensified cyber patrolling. A dedicated wing within the state’s Cyber Dome has been deployed exclusively to monitor dark web transactions.

The team includes cyber security specialists, ethical hackers, and cyber professionals. Authorities revealed that numerous Malayalis are involved in such illegal dealings. These transactions often involve not only narcotics but also malware distribution, child sexual abuse material, counterfeit luxury goods, and illegal data sales.

New software tools have been developed under cyber experts’ guidance to track and apprehend individuals involved in these transactions.

Ketamelon: India’s biggest dark web drug syndicate dismantled

Kerala Police’s efforts coincide with a major nationwide bust. In a high-stakes operation codenamed “MELON”, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) recently dismantled India’s most prolific darknet drug syndicate, “Ketamelon”.

The operation led to the seizure of 1,127 LSD blots and 131.66 grams of Ketamine, worth around ₹35.12 lakh. Alongside the drugs, officials also confiscated digital assets valued at ₹70 lakh, taking the total recovery above ₹1 crore.

Investigators discovered that the racket was run by Muvattupuzha native Edison. The group used Monero (XMR), a privacy-focused cryptocurrency popular in illegal transactions.

On June 28, 2025, 280 LSD blots were intercepted from three postal parcels in Cochin. A follow-up house search on June 29 yielded another 847 LSD blots and 131.66 grams of Ketamine. Authorities also seized a bootable KITES OS pen drive, cryptocurrency wallets, hard disks with incriminating content, and a hardware wallet containing USDT worth ₹70 lakh.

Custodial wallets on cryptocurrency platforms such as Binance have also been traced for further action.

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.

Over the past 14 months, more than 600 drug consignments were delivered to major cities including Bengaluru, Chennai, Bhopal, Patna, Delhi, and parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. LSD blots in the network sold for ₹2,500 to ₹4,000 each.

Past precedents: Zambada cartel and darknet ratings

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.

Darknet cartels are often rated from 1-star to 5-star based on drug potency and customer service.

LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), a hallucinogenic substance, causes altered perceptions. It is commonly referred to as acid, blots, or stamps. Often painted on small paper squares, it is tasteless, odourless, and colourless. Users report sensing colours or hearing sounds, often accompanied by intense emotions and distorted perception of space and time.

Public urged to aid in drug-free India initiative

Both the main suspect and his associate have been taken into custody. The NCB affirms its commitment to dismantling synthetic drug networks facilitated via the dark web and cryptocurrencies.

To assist in this mission for a drug-free India, NCB has requested public cooperation. Citizens can report narcotic-related information by calling the toll-free MANAS National Narcotics Helpline at 1933. Caller identity is kept strictly confidential.