Tech-Savvy Professionals Among 22 Arrested In Dark Web Narcotics Operation

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) unearthed three major drug markets as it busted a pan-India drug trafficking network that used the dark web and cryptocurrency to courier narcotics at home.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has arrested 22 people, including software engineers, a financial analyst, an MBA graduate and one of their own personnel as it busted a pan-India drug trafficking network that uses the 'darknet' and cryptocurrency to courier narcotics at home.

The federal anti-narcotics agency unearthed three major drug markets -- DNM India, Dread and The Orient Express -- running on the hidden web world after a four-month operation in Delhi-NCR, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Assam, Punjab, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Rajasthan.

Four cases have been lodged in the matter and 17 seizures were made during this country-wide operation, officials said.

The recreational drugs were being sourced from countries like the USA, UK, Netherlands and Poland using courier services and also the India Post network, said Narcotics Control Bureau deputy director-general for northern region Gyaneshwar Singh at a press conference.