The Narcotics Control Bureau has seized more than 15,000 blots of LSD, or lysergic acid diethylamide a chemical based synthetic hallucinogenic drug – and busted a pan-India trading network that used cryptocurrencies and was run through the “dark web”. Six people have been arrested in connection with this case.
NCB Deputy Director General Gyaneshwar Singh told reporters on Tuesday afternoon that this was the “biggest ever” seizure of LSD “blots” in a single operation.
“This network used a ‘dark web’ for its transactions. This network operated virtually and payments were made through cryptocurrencies and crypto-wallets. Buyers and sellers had no physical contact,” he explained.
The “dark web” or “dark web” refers to the hidden corners of the Internet used to sell illegal items, exchange prohibited content, and engage in other criminal activity.
The drug network busted by the NCB was spread across Poland, the Netherlands, the United States and various Indian states, including Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.
Officials also recovered 2.5 kg of marijuana and cash worth ₹24.65 lakh.
What is an LSD ‘blot’?
A “stain” is a piece of paper the size of half a stamp, and it’s a way of carrying and consuming the drug that makes it harder for authorities to track.
“…this is a pin. Half of this stamp is one ‘blot’ and each blot can be consumed by an individual, usually by swallowing it. The size of these ‘blots’ makes it very difficult to hide and smuggle… you can have it between any piece paper or document and by parcel or courier,” said Gyaneshwar Singh.
Possession of 0.1 gram is the limit for possession of a commercial amount of LSD, and the amount recovered is more than 2,500 times that, he added.
What was the previous LSD record?
The previous highest seizure of LSD (in a single operation) was 5,000 blots by the Karnataka Police in 2021 and the NCB office in Kolkata the following year.
NCB’s top catch for ₹25,000 in May
The NCB’s announcement today comes days after a joint operation with the Navy led to the seizure of drugs worth ₹25,000 crore off the Kerala coast last month.
The drug was methamphetamine and over 2,500 kg of the substance was found.
Officials said the value of the haul was higher than normal because the drugs were of a higher grade; The seized drugs were found in one-kg packages hidden in 134 bags.
Seizure also in April
Also in April, the anti-narcotics agency made a massive seizure and busted a multi-drug cartel in Goa in an operation that lasted more than two weeks.
In this case, three people, including two Russian nationals, were arrested and, in addition to drugs, foreign currency and fake identity cards were seized. Cash worth more than ₹ 6.4 lakh in Indian and other currencies was found.
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