The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has busted a pan-India LSD trafficking network, arresting four people, including a doctor and an MBBS student from Tamil Nadu, following a week-long operation across Chennai, Kanniyakumari, and Pune. The agency seized 2,796 LSD blots worth about ₹1 crore, along with hydroponic ganja, Nitrazepam tablets, and ₹70,000 in suspected drug proceeds. According to an official NCB release quoted by The New Indian Express, preliminary investigations revealed the syndicate had dispatched at least 14 parcels since April 2026 using the dark web, Monero cryptocurrency, and courier services to supply LSD across multiple states.

The NCB said in an official release, cited by DT Next, the investigation began after LSD blots were seized in Chennai and later traced the alleged trafficking network to Pune, where a key accused was responsible for receiving, repackaging, and dispatching consignments through courier services. In an official release, the NCB said the week-long operation "resulted in the arrest of a key syndicate member responsible for receiving, repackaging and dispatching LSD consignments to customers across multiple States."

The accused was intercepted while preparing parcels destined for Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh, which were seized before delivery. Investigators also intercepted two parcels bound for Tamil Nadu, including one containing 225 LSD blots allegedly meant for distribution in Kodaikanal. According to the NCB's official release, as reported by The New Indian Express, two people suspected of managing guest houses in the hill station and linked to the syndicate remain absconding.

The agency also recovered 166 grams of suspected hydroponic ganja, 113 Nitrazepam tablets, and ₹70,000 in cash, suspected to be proceeds of illicit drug trafficking.

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), commonly known as "acid," is a powerful synthetic hallucinogen that alters perception, mood, and thinking. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the drug can trigger hallucinations, distorted sensory experiences, impaired judgment, anxiety, panic reactions, and unpredictable behavior. Although fatal overdoses are uncommon, impaired judgment while under the influence of LSD can increase the risk of accidents, injuries, and other harmful outcomes.

Separately, the NCB said the alleged syndicate sourced LSD through a darknet marketplace, accepted payments in the privacy-focused cryptocurrency Monero (XMR), and relied on encrypted messaging platforms, reshipping methods, and courier services to evade detection. Preliminary findings indicate the group dispatched at least 14 parcels since April 2026, pointing to an alleged organized interstate trafficking operation.

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The NCB said efforts are underway to identify the operator behind the darknet vendor profile, trace associated cryptocurrency transactions, and identify the entire supply chain behind the alleged trafficking network. Investigators are also working to apprehend the remaining members of the alleged syndicate.

The investigation underscores the alleged use of darknet marketplaces, encrypted messaging platforms, courier services, and privacy-focused cryptocurrency such as Monero to support interstate LSD trafficking. The NCB said the probe remains ongoing as officials work to identify the full extent of the alleged network.

References:

1. National Institute on Drug Abuse. “Psychedelic and Dissociative Drugs.” National Institutes of Health. Last modified January 2025. Accessed July 31, 2026. https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/psychedelic-dissociative-drugs

(Rh/TP/MSM)