In a significant crackdown on narcotics trafficking, the Pune Police have uncovered and disrupted a sophisticated international drug network that leveraged the dark web and cryptocurrency for its operations. Over the past month, authorities have arrested five individuals and seized narcotics and materials with a total value of Rs 3.45 crore.
International Links and Digital Payments Uncovered
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 4) Somay Munde, addressing a press conference on Wednesday, revealed that the investigation exposed connections to an international drug-peddling network with roots in Thailand and Bhutan. The syndicate employed a complex system using the dark web for coordination and hawala payments facilitated through cryptocurrency to obscure financial trails. Five other persons, including three foreign nationals, are under investigation in the same case.
"Dark web and cryptocurrency were being used to get OG-Kush ganja and other substances like mushrooms, LSD and MD into India," stated DCP Munde. The drugs were allegedly imported from Thailand and Bhutan to Assam, before being routed to Pune, often concealed within courier packages.
Seizures and Arrests Across Cities
The police action led to the arrest of five men from different cities: Tushar Chetan Verma (21), Sumit Santosh Dedwal (25), Akshay Sukhlal Maher (25), Malay Rajesh Deliwala (28), and Swaraj Anant Bhosale (28). The operation began with Verma's arrest during regular patrolling by the Khadki police station, leading to a case under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
The seized narcotics represent a wide range of substances, indicating a diversified illicit business. The haul includes:
- 243.99 grams of Mephedrone (MD)
- 1.11 kilograms of Opium
- 82 grams of OG-Kush cannabis
- LSD strips, psychedelic mushrooms, hashish, MDMA pills, cannabis gummies, and CBD oil.
Police discovered that a flat in Pimpri-Chinchwad was being used to cultivate OG-Kush hydroponic weed. Notably, DCP Munde highlighted that "the accused are all well-educated, from technical backgrounds and even IT professionals," suggesting the use of specialized knowledge to run the operation.
Financial Assets Frozen and Ongoing Probe
In a move to cripple the network's financial backbone, the police have frozen bank accounts, crypto wallets, and foreign currency belonging to the arrested individuals, valued at Rs 7,80,000. The total value of the seized drugs alone is estimated to be over Rs 1.06 crore.
This bust underscores the evolving nature of drug trafficking, where traditional smuggling methods are increasingly being replaced by digital marketplaces on the dark web and encrypted financial transactions using cryptocurrencies. The Pune Police's investigation remains active as they pursue the international links and other individuals involved in this complex case.
