NCB Seizes 15,000 LSD Blots, Busts Dark Net-Based Drug Network; 6 Nabbed

NEW DELHI: In its largest seizure of its kind, more than 15,000 blots of LSD, or lysergic acid diethylamide were seized by the Narcotics Control Bureau, busting a pan-India trafficking network that relied on crypto currency for payment and was run with the help of the 'dark web'.

Six people were also nabbed for dealing in this massive amount of LSD, which is a synthetic chemical-based drug that is hallucinogenic in nature.

NCB Deputy Director General Gyaneshwar Singh on Tuesday afternoon told reporters that this is the largest ever seizure of LSD 'blots' by the anti- narcotics agency in a single operation.

"This network used the 'dark net' in their dealings. This network operated virtually and the payments were made via cryptocurrency and crypto wallets. The buyer and the seller did not have any physical contact," Singh informed.

Hidden corners of the internet are referred to as the 'dark web' or 'dark net', which is mainly used to trade in illegal items, exchange of banned content and other criminal activities that are engaged in by criminals and nefarious people.

NCB officials successfully busted the network after tracking social media accounts, Singh said.

According to officers of the NCB, the accused smugglers used to dip stamps in LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) solution and supply them to customers who contacted them and paid over the dark net.

Each stamp was cut into two parts, Singh said. “Each half is called an LSD blot. The drug users swallow one blot. About 4-5 blots make for one commercial quantity and are trafficked. Because of its size, it is easier to smuggle such blots. You can hide it in a book or carry it easily,” Singh explained.

The drug- dealing network busted by the NCB was spread throughout several Indian states like Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, as well as countries like Poland, the Netherlands and the United States, among others.

Apart from the LSD, 2.5 kg of marijuana and currency amounting to Rs 24.65 lakh was also recovered by officials.

The so- called LSD 'blot' is half of a postage stamp-sized piece of paper and each blot can be consumed by an individual, usually by swallowing it. It is this means of transporting and consuming the drug makes it a problem for the concerned authorities to track down.

"The size of these 'blots' makes them very easy to hide and smuggle. You can keep it in between any piece of paper or document and parcel or courier it," Gyaneshwar Singh said.

While 0.1 gram is the maximum limit for possession of LSD to make it a commercial quantity, the amount recovered is more than 2,500 times that limit, he added.

The earlier record for the highest seizure of LSD in a single operation was 5,000 blots, which was done by Karnataka Police in 2021, and in the following year by the Kolkata office of the NCB.

Also Read: Odisha Train Tragedy: 10-Member CBI Team on Site; Death Toll Now 278

Also Watch: