India’s NCB Cracks ‘Ketamelon’ Darknet, Seizing $82K in Crypto

In a significant crackdown, India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has dismantled the country’s top darknet drug syndicate, ‘Ketamelon,’ and has seized $82k USDT in the operation. The operation Melon was conducted under the leadership of the NCB Cochin Zonal Unit. 

As per the reports, the authorities have seized 1,127 LSD blotters, 131.66 grams of ketamine, and a hardware wallet holding $82k (₹70 lakh) of USDT. The group, two people who led this group, are now arrested for delivering LSD to cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, Bhopal, Patna, Delhi, and parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, making about 600 deliveries in 14 months.

The investigation started when the NCB found three parcels with 280 LSD blotters in Kochi on June 28, 2025. After that, a search was conducted at the suspect’s place that revealed 847 more LSD blotters, ketamine, a pen drive with a special system to access the darknet, cryptocurrency wallets, and secret documents. 

The NCB is now checking accounts on platforms like Binance. The drugs are worth around $43k (₹35.12 lakh). ‘Ketamelon’ was a top darknet seller in India, known as a Level 4 vendor, getting drugs from a UK supplier called Gunga Din, connected to a major global LSD source called ‘Dr. Seuss.’ 

The group’s name comes from its early ketamine sales. LSD, also called acid or stamps, is a drug that has no smell or taste and is taken on small paper pieces. This bust comes after the NCB’s 2023 takedown of another drug group, ‘Zambada,’ which was linked to Dr. Seuss and had a top darknet rating, showing the NCB’s work to stop these hidden drug networks.