India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has arrested Edison, a 35-year-old mechanical engineer from Kerala, in connection with the country’s largest darknet drug syndicate. Operating under the alias “Ketamelon,” Edison allegedly ran the network for two years while his family remained unaware.
The NCB’s Operation MELON seized 1,127 LSD blots, 131.66 grams of ketamine, and cryptocurrency assets valued at over $82,000. Edison reportedly sourced drugs from international suppliers and distributed narcotics to multiple Indian cities including Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh.
To conceal transactions, Edison used Monero (XMR), a privacy-focused cryptocurrency favored on darknet markets for its ability to obscure transaction details. Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis highlighted a shift among darknet vendors from Bitcoin to Monero due to increased transparency and traceability of Bitcoin transactions.
Experts warn that despite enhanced privacy features, Monero and similar coins are not completely anonymous. Andrew Fierman, Head of National Security Intelligence at Chainalysis, explained that all transactions are recorded on immutable ledgers, leaving permanent evidence that can be traced retroactively.
The bust follows a four-month investigation during which over 600 drug shipments were tracked. Edison is believed to have distributed approximately 10,000 LSD blots monthly across India, significantly exceeding the usual annual seizures in Kerala.
This operation is part of a broader crackdown on cybercrime and darknet drug markets. Recently, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned a Russian hosting provider accused of supporting ransomware and darknet activities globally.