Crypto, call centres & cartons of pills: Global dark web drug empire busted in Delhi’s backstreets; leads to seizures in US, Australia, Europe | Delhi News

NEW DELHI: What began with a routine vehicle interception near Bengali Market in central Delhi unravelled into a massive crackdown on a transnational drug trafficking syndicate. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has dismantled the network, which used encrypted digital platforms, drop-shipping models and cryptocurrency to smuggle controlled medicines across four continents.The operation exposed a sophisticated criminal web operating across India, the US, Australia and Europe, showcasing both the global reach of illicit pharma networks and NCB’s capability to lead coordinated international enforcement actions.Union home minister Amit Shah took to X to appreciate the operation, which led to eight arrests and massive seizures of drugs. “Congratulations to NCB and all agencies on busting a global drug cartel. The probe set a stellar example of multi-agency coordination. The probe set a stellar example of multi-agency coordination, resulting in 8 arrests and seizures of 5 consignments while triggering crackdowns in the US and Australia against the ring that operates across 4 continents and 10+ nations.““PM Modi led govt is determined to saw off every drug cartel and protect our youth, no matter where they operate from,” he posted on X. The operation, codenamed “Med-Max”, uncovered a global network spanning over 10 countries and four continents. NCB’s action led to a connected arrest by the US DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) in Alabama as well.The investigation began on May 25 this year when the NCB HQ Ops team intercepted a car near Mandi House in Delhi, seizing 3.7kg of Tramadol tablets from the possession of two B. Pharma graduates from a reputed private university in Noida. “The arrested persons confessed to operating a vendor profile on a major Indian B2B platform, selling pharmaceutical pills to clients across the US, Europe, and Australia,” said a senior official. Further investigation led to the arrest of a key associate in Mayur Vihar, who revealed connections with a contact in Udupi, Karnataka, responsible for organising bulk orders for shipments to the US. From Udupi, NCB uncovered data on 50 international consignments, including packages sent to the US, Australia, Estonia, Spain and Switzerland. The information was shared with global counterparts and Interpol, leading to the identification and arrest of a bulk re-shipper and money launderer in Alabama by the US DEA. The operation there resulted in the seizure of more than 17,000 tablets of controlled medication and the recovery of about 700 grams of Zolpidem tablets. “The syndicate operated on encrypted communication platforms like Telegram and relied on cryptocurrency payments, PayPal and Western Union to evade detection. Further digital forensics led to the arrests of two more Indian nationals from New Delhi and Jaipur, who handled logistics and supply-side operations,” the senior NCB official added. The kingpin, who coordinated international linkages and finances, has been identified and located in the UAE, and NCB is actively working with the authorities in that country to bust the racket. The investigation also revealed the existence of a clandestine pill-manufacturing facility in Australia, directly tied to the syndicate, which has been dismantled by local law enforcement. Operations in other jurisdictions are still ongoing, officials said. “The modus operandi of the network involved a sophisticated global operation, with the mastermind operating out of the UAE, orchestrating both the orders and supply modules with a high level of coordination and compartmentalisation,” said an investigator. The orders module functioned through a major B2B platform, and the group ran a fully functional call centre based in Udupi to manage incoming sales leads. With eight arrests so far, the financial trail involving crypto wallets and hawala channels is under investigation. NCB is also engaging with private sector platforms to counter the proliferation of illegal online pharmacies that openly advertise the sale of controlled medicines, another official said.