CHENNAI: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) dismantled a pan-India darknet-based drug distribution network operating under the name “Team Kalki”, seizing large quantities of synthetic narcotics, including LSD, MDMA and liquid MDMA, in a major crackdown on online drug trafficking.NCB said the network dispatched more than 1,000 consignments across India since January 2025. Some parcels were already intercepted by enforcement agencies in Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala and Karnataka, and the details of those cases are being analysed.During the operation, officers seized 2,338 LSD blotters, 160 MDMA (ecstasy) pills weighing 77.517 grams, 73.612 grams of charas, 3.642 grams of amphetamine, and 3.6 kg of liquid MDMA. The narcotics were recovered from 13 domestically intercepted parcels and 2 parcels originating from the Netherlands linked to the network.
Poll
Do you believe that cracking down on darknet drug distribution networks is an effective measure in combating drug trafficking?
Acting on intelligence gathered over the past 3 months, NCB officials conducted an operation in New Delhi that led to the bust of the network, which was active on darknet platforms and encrypted messaging applications since January 2025.Investigations revealed that the darknet vendor account “Team Kalki” was run by Anurag Thakur along with his associate Vikas Rathi, both of whom are repeat offenders previously arrested in cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.Rathi was earlier lodged in Tihar Jail in connection with a charas trafficking case registered by the Delhi Police Special Cell, while Thakur was imprisoned in a methamphetamine trafficking case booked by the Delhi Police Crime Branch. Officials said the 2 met during their incarceration and later started operating the darknet drug network.Initially, the accused operated through the darknet forum “Dread”, where their vendor account reportedly maintained a 4-star rating, indicating successful completion of numerous orders. After establishing their presence there, they expanded operations to the encrypted Session messaging application to manage orders and delivery.Authorities said the accused allegedly sourced LSD and MDMA from international darknet vendors based in the Netherlands, Poland and Germany, while customers across India placed orders through encrypted platforms to maintain anonymity.Multiple electronic devices were seized from the accused, and investigators identified a cryptocurrency wallet linked to the operation. Officials said temporary unhosted wallets were created for receiving payments, after which the funds were quickly transferred through several layers of intermediary wallets to obscure tracking.The NCB said further investigations are under way to identify other members of the network, trace financial transactions and uncover the international supply chain linked to the operation, while efforts continue to dismantle the entire ecosystem of the “Team Kalki” darknet drug network.
