In an ongoing crackdown on dark web drug networks, Kerala’s cybercrime division has identified 25 individuals engaged in online narcotics trafficking, most of whom are young, tech-savvy men from affluent backgrounds and working in IT sectors across South India.
The operation was spearheaded by the state’s Cyber Division and Technical Intelligence Wing, which began monitoring darknet activities after detecting a significant rise in drug-related transactions across encrypted channels. According to sources within the force, several of the suspects operated not just from Kerala, but also from tech hubs like Bengaluru, leveraging tools like Tor, encrypted messaging apps, and anonymous courier drops to facilitate the drug trade.
Police sources told TorNews.org that many of these traffickers used traditional bank transfers and payment apps to receive money—making them easier to trace than those using cryptocurrencies. Only one of the 25 suspects was found to be transacting in crypto, while the rest relied on methods such as UPI transfers, indicating a potential lapse in operational security to attract more casual or first-time buyers.
Darknet vendors typically posted listings offering small to moderate quantities of drugs such as MDMA, LSD, and cannabis derivatives, with delivery facilitated by private courier services—often disguised in common items like books, cosmetics, or gadget packaging.
Law enforcement suspects that the actual drug supplies may originate from larger domestic stockpiles or international mail routes, with the darknet dealers acting as localized micro-distributors rather than handling bulk quantities. “It’s a portion of a consignment stored elsewhere that ends up being resold through encrypted channels,” an insider revealed.
The investigation has already resulted in multiple arrests, with the remaining suspects being tracked across state lines. Police have also forwarded intelligence to cyber units in neighboring states for broader coordination.
“The anonymity of the dark web makes it attractive,” a senior official noted. “There are no physical meetings, only digital deals, encrypted messages, and anonymous deliveries—but that doesn’t mean they can’t be found.”
As regional authorities in India step up their cyber-patrolling efforts, Kerala’s model may serve as a blueprint for other states combating the increasingly decentralized nature of darknet-based drug networks.
