In fact, by 2013, a Guardian article revealed that about 70% of listings were drug-related. Once you unknowingly install the spyware or ransomware, they can steal your identity or even hijack your crypto wallet. In many countries, strict laws limit who can legally buy, own, or carry firearms. So when someone like a private buyer or criminal group can’t pass the background checks or get the right permits, they usually turn to the dark web to sidestep the rules and get armed without drawing attention.
What Was Seized:
Often painted on small paper squares, it is tasteless, odourless, and colourless. Users report sensing colours or hearing sounds, often accompanied by intense emotions and distorted perception of space and time. The investigation confirmed that “Ketamelon” held a Level 4 vendor status—the highest tier in India—actively operating for two years. The name originated from the vendor’s early involvement in Ketamine smuggling.
Launched after the takedown of AlphaBay in 2021, Abacus Market has rapidly risen to prominence. It features over 40,000 listings including narcotics, counterfeit items, hacking tools, and stolen data. The marketplace is well-known for its bug bounty programs and robust security mechanisms, including mandatory 2FA. “This was (Ketamelon) one of India’s most prolific darknet drugs syndicates. The agency launched an operation codenamed ‘Melon’ to investigate it after getting primary inputs from the Cochin seizure,” the NCB said in a statement. “This was (Ketamelon) one of India’s most prolific darknet drugs syndicates. The agency launched an operation codenamed ‘Melon’ to investigate it after getting primary inputs from the Cochin seizure,” the NCB said in a statement.
Too-good-to-be-true investment offers are another classic scam on the dark web. Early participants may see some profit, but that money usually comes from new victims, not actual earnings. Eventually, the system collapses, and most people lose their entire investment. So, if a “business opportunity” sounds too perfect, it probably is. These hackers don’t hide in the shadows as much as you might think. Anything from planting malware and stealing sensitive files to hijacking email accounts or breaking into social media profiles.
How Much Is Stolen Data Sold For On Darknet Markets?
These statistics were presented in response to parliamentary questions from opposition MP Jose K. Mani, who inquired about the increasing use of technology in drug trafficking activities. Edison Babu, a former engineer, was unmasked as the mastermind behind ‘Ketamelon,’ India’s top-tier darknet drug empire. He exploited the government postal service to distribute drugs across the country, highlighting a vulnerability in the system. Authorities seized substantial amounts of drugs and cryptocurrency, revealing the sophistication of digital drug dealing and the challenges in combating it. Beyond its immediate implications on crime and law enforcement, this incident poses important questions for cryptocurrency regulation and the ongoing debate around privacy. While digital privacy is a right deserving strong protection, its potential misuse to shield illegal activity presents a formidable challenge.
One of the things STYX is infamous for is having a rigorous verification process for users that makes it seem more exclusive. They even have a Telegram channel to provide their clients with live updates. Like most of the markets, STYX supports Bitcoin (BTC), Monero (XMR), and other crypto tokens to keep everyone’s identity hidden on this marketplace. It has a search option to let you find local and international products and services on the dark web.
Why Are Darknet Markets Found On The Dark Web?
Some even have connections to criminal organizations and, in more serious cases, government-backed operations. But somewhere between production and purchasing, things can get dirty. For example, an insider or factory employee might quietly slip away with an unmarked gun and sell it online. Once it lands on a darknet marketplace, it becomes part of the illegal weapons trade. Next up is Abacus, another newer market that has already made a massive name for itself, especially following AlphaBay’s closure.
Narcotics Bureau Busts ‘biggest’ Darknet LSD Cartel, Seizes Rs 26 Lakh ‘drug Money’
He sourced LSD from a UK-based vendor known as “Gunga Din” and sold it across India using international and domestic couriers. Over the span of 14 months, the syndicate shipped around 600 parcels to cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, Patna, Bhopal, Delhi, and parts of Himachal Pradesh. “Zambada intended to open an Indian outlet of Dr. Seuss wherein he would have maintained a minimum stock of 1 lakh LSD blots. Monero is a privacy-centric crypto designed to mask transaction details, making it a preferred payment method for darknet drug dealers and cybercriminals.
How Were These Arrests Made In This Bengaluru Inside NT?
- Some fake sellers take your crypto and never ship what you ordered, or phishing sites that look like real marketplaces but steal your login info.
- Edison, who had earlier worked in Bengaluru and Pune before returning to his hometown, reportedly turned to the dark web two years ago after facing financial struggles.
- “The NCB is looking at freezing at least ₹50 crore worth of assets,” the sources said.
- Cybersecurity experts should pay close attention to these trends, as they often indicate emerging threats and profit-generating tactics among the cybercriminal forums.
- NCB officials said ‘Ketamelon’ was India’s only Level 4 darknet vendor — kind of a top-tier status — operating “actively” over the past two years.
- This extra privacy makes it much harder for authorities to track down who runs these markets and where they are located.
Today’s cybercriminals spread their activities across multiple platforms, making them harder to track and shut down. NCB officials confirmed that ‘Ketamelon’ was India’s only Level 4 darknet vendor — a top-tier status in India — operating actively over the past two years. According to a senior NCB officer, the agency, after weeks of intelligence gathering, intercepted three postal parcels in Cochin on June 28, containing 280 LSD blots. Acting swiftly, they raided the suspect’s residence on June 29, uncovering a further 847 LSD blots, Ketamine and a trove of digital evidence. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), the nodal agency on drug law enforcement matters, booked three of such dark net and crypto-related cases in 2020, 49 in 2021, eight in 2022, 21 in 2023 and 11 until April 2024. LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), a hallucinogenic substance, causes altered perceptions.
Torzon Market
‘Ketamelon’ had established a widespread network, shipping LSD to major cities, including Bangalore, Chennai, Bhopal, Patna, Delhi, and regions in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The estimated street value of the seized drugs is approximately Rs 35.12 lakh, with LSD blots priced at Rs 2,500-4,000 each. The operation, codenamed ‘MELON’, was led by the NCB Cochin Zonal Unit and has resulted in the seizure of large quantities of LSD and Ketamine, as well as digital assets worth Rs 70 lakh.
- It is trafficked by painting it on blots, half the size of a stamp paper, and is consumed by licking or swallowing.
- On the dark web, you don’t need to be a technical expert to design ransomware, and that’s dangerous.
- Ransomware and cryptocurrency-based crimes saw a significant increase in 2023, with a nearly $176 million rise compared to 2022.
- In 2019, there were approximately 8,400 active sites on the dark web, selling thousands of products and services daily.
- Investigators discovered that the racket was run by Muvattupuzha native Edison.
- Once it lands on a darknet marketplace, it becomes part of the illegal weapons trade.
His primary supplier was a UK-based darknet dealer known as “Gunga Din,” believed to be part of a global LSD smuggling ring. On the surface, Edison Babu seemed like any other well-educated professional from Kerala—a mechanical engineer, a family man, and a mild-mannered resident of Muvattupuzha, Ernakulam district. To his neighbors and acquaintances, he was soft-spoken and reserved, occasionally spotted taking his toddler to daycare. Yet, behind this unassuming facade lay a dark and complex secret that would eventually draw the attention of India’s premier narcotics agency and shake the foundations of India’s fight against cyber-enabled drug trafficking. He reportedly used TAILS OS (a security-focused operating system that leaves no digital footprint), encrypted storage devices, cryptocurrency wallets, and multiple email aliases to cover his tracks.
It contains 40,000+ listings for illegal products (mostly) and is worth an estimated $15 million, so it’s one of the largest markets out there. These markets are dangerous anyway and shouldn’t be accessed even if they’ve onion addresses. The marketplace supports multiple payment methods, including Bitcoin (BTC), Litecoin (LTC), and Cryptocheck. They add new batches of stolen data every other week, and there’s even a bidding system where buyers can place offers on new data batches as soon as they become available.
A lot of vendors from all over the world are registered here, offering an extensive range of products, including digital services, security tools, and other equipment. For those who are looking for a reliable Alphabay Market alternative, Awazon Market aspires to become the solution. Unlike regular e-commerce sites, markets on the dark web often deal with illegal or highly restricted goods and services, such as fake documents, hard drugs, and hacking services.
Over the last 14 months, 600 shipments were reportedly shipped by Ketamelon. The estimated street value of the seized drugs is approximately ₹35.12 lakhs, with LSD blots priced at ₹2,500–₹4,000 each. Known for its publicity stunt releasing millions of stolen card details for free, BidenCash specializes in credit card fraud and identity theft. Launched in 2020, Cypher Marketplace sells fraudulent documents, stolen credit cards, fake IDs, and malware. Its emphasis on user anonymity and document forgery makes it a core tool for identity fraud. Under the alias “Ketamelon”, Edison ran a sophisticated drug business.
By leveraging advanced analytics and working hand-in-hand with investigators and other stakeholders, we helped trace and freeze those illicit funds. While some of these markets were shuttered by law enforcement agencies – some took the easy way out with exit scams. Here are some of the now-defunct dark web markets that were notorious for cybercrime.
