Indian man arrested for purchasing and distributing drugs using crypto

An Indian national has been apprehended by the Anti-Narcotics Cell division in Gurugram, Haryana, for using cryptocurrency to procure the psychedelic drug LSD. According to authorities, the suspect purchased the drugs to distribute them at several high-profile parties in the region.

Indian authorities mentioned that the suspect purchased the drugs, which were designed in the form of ‘children’s tattoo stickers’, from an international source using several digital assets. The accused, Mohammed Shahbaz, is a native of New Town in Kolkata, West Bengal. The accused told authorities that the drugs were always distributed at several high-profile parties around Gurugram.

According to the Indian police, the suspect was arrested in a coordinated effort on Wednesday, February 19, at sector 43 in Gurugram. Authorities mentioned that he was staying at a rented guest accommodation in the Saket area of Delhi. He was arrested after a tip-off from sources in the region that saw him carry out his covert activity.

Indian man docked for procuring drugs with intent to distribute

According to the Indian authorities, about 2.7 grams of the drugs, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), which were designed to look like children’s tattoo stickers were seized from the suspect. The seizure took place in the presence of a senior official, the statement clarified.

In the statement released by Sub-Inspector Karamjit, who runs the Anti-Narcotics Cell division, he mentioned that the suspect confessed to obtaining the drugs from a website called Bioness, which he accessed through the Tor browser. The authorities mentioned that, according to Shahbaz, the payment option on the website was via cryptocurrency, a likelihood of the drug ring hiding the sale and movement of their illicit drugs using the assets.

The official added that the drugs take the shape of a stamp ticket, noting that they could go through most scanners undetected. He mentioned that the criminals might have relied on this to run their activities, going undetected over the past years. The official also added that the drug is usually ingested orally, with the users placing it on their tongues to produce hallucinogenic effects.

According to an official connected to the case, there have been many cases of Indian youths using LSD at rave parties, noting its popularity in several regions where these parties are held. “LSD is widely used in the US, Russia, and European countries, and we are seeing a rising trend in India as well,” he said.

The dark web is connected to cryptocurrencies

According to the Indian authorities, an FIR has been filed against the suspect under Section 22(c) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the Sushant Lok police station. With investigations still ongoing, the authorities will keep Shahbaz in custody as they try to apprehend his accomplices, both locally and internationally.

“Shahbaz has been working as a photographer in Delhi for the past year. He has been remanded to four days of police custody, and we are questioning him about his international connections,” Karamjit added.

While it has often been tracked by regulators globally, the rate of criminal activities on the dark web seems to have picked up pace again. This case shows the need for regulators to have a hands-on approach when it comes to crypto regulation. Criminals carry out other activities on the dark web, including other serious offenses like funding terrorist activities.

For instance, a South African was apprehended some weeks ago for funding terrorists using digital assets. The suspect, whose transactions were flagged, was said to have sent in thousands of rands on the virtual asset service provider Luno and swapped it for Bitcoin, to pick up an order to provide funds for the group to purchase arms.

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