The Narcotics Control Bureau has cracked a major darknet drug racket. The network operated under the name “Team Kalki.” Investigators seized large quantities of synthetic narcotics during the operation. These drugs included LSD, MDMA and liquid MDMA. Therefore, the case has drawn serious national attention.
NCB officers said the network ran a pan-India operation. The racket allegedly sent around 1,000 consignments across India. Investigators tracked these consignments from January 2024 onward. Moreover, they intercepted parcels from several states during the probe. These states included Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala and Karnataka.
The agency conducted the operation after a long investigation. Officers worked on the case for nearly three months. During that period, they tracked digital trails and parcel movements. Consequently, they identified the network’s main channels and suspects. The case now stands out as a significant darknet crackdown.
Seizures Reveal Scale of the Operation
The seizure list shows the scale of the racket clearly. Officers recovered 2,338 LSD blotters during the operation. They also seized 160 MDMA pills. Those pills weighed 77.517 grams in total. Furthermore, the team seized 73.612 grams of charas. It also recovered 3.642 grams of amphetamine.
🚨𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘁 𝗱𝗿𝘂𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴.🚨
🔷️ NCB has dismantled a pan-India drug distribution network operating under the name “𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶”.
🔷️ Seized 2,338 LSD blotters, 160 MDMA (Ecstasy) pills (77.517… pic.twitter.com/kSAo6kiTuH
— NCB INDIA (@narcoticsbureau) March 8, 2026
The biggest seizure came in liquid MDMA. Investigators recovered 3.6 kilograms of the substance. That recovery suggests an organised and well-supplied network. In addition, the team recovered 13 domestic parcels. It also linked two parcels from the Netherlands to the racket. Therefore, investigators now suspect international sourcing connections.
These recoveries did not emerge from a random raid. Instead, officers followed a digital and logistical trail. They examined parcel patterns and user communication closely. As a result, they mapped the network’s distribution structure. Each recovery then helped build the larger case.
Darknet Platforms and Encrypted Apps Powered the Trade
The investigating team said the racket used darknet platforms actively. It also used encrypted messaging platforms for communication. According to officers, the operation stayed active on these channels since January 2025. The suspects used them to reach buyers and hide identities. Therefore, the network avoided conventional street-level exposure.
The accused first operated through a darknet forum named Dread. The vendor on that forum held a four-star rating. That rating suggested successful order execution over time. Consequently, the network built credibility among buyers in hidden online markets.
The accused also used Session, an encrypted messaging application. That app helped them speak with buyers secretly. It reduced exposure of names, locations and other personal details. Therefore, it became an important tool in the racket’s functioning.
Parcels, Couriers and Dead Drops Kept the Network Moving
Inside India, the network relied heavily on postal and courier services. Officers said the suspects used Speed Post for deliveries. They also used private courier companies to move parcels. This strategy helped them spread consignments widely and quickly. Moreover, it reduced the need for direct meetings.
In parts of Delhi, the network used dead drops. This method avoided hand-to-hand delivery completely. The suspects left parcels at pre-arranged locations. Then they sent buyers the coordinates for collection. Therefore, buyers and sellers could avoid direct contact.
This method shows careful planning by the accused. It also reflects increasing sophistication in narcotics distribution. Rather than depend on traditional peddling, the network used logistics and secrecy. Consequently, officers had to investigate both cyber trails and physical parcel movement.
Two Repeat Offenders Led the Operation
Investigators identified Anurag Thakur and Vikas Rathi as key operators. According to NCB, the two men ran “Team Kalki.” Officers also described both men as repeat offenders. Earlier cases under the NDPS Act already linked them to narcotics crimes. Therefore, investigators believe the accused had prior experience and contacts.
Rathi earlier went to Tihar jail in a charas case. Thakur also served jail time in a methamphetamine case. Investigators now say the two formed their partnership inside jail. That detail adds another serious layer to the case. It suggests that prison links may have helped shape the operation later.
The agency believes both accused used past knowledge to rebuild their activities. They allegedly combined darknet access, encrypted communication and courier delivery into one system. Consequently, the operation stayed active for a long period before detection.
Probe Continues as Agency Tracks Full Supply Chain
NCB says the investigation has not ended yet. Officers are now working to uncover the entire cycle. That cycle includes suppliers, handlers, dispatch points and buyers. Therefore, more arrests or seizures may follow in the coming days.
The agency also wants to examine the overseas angle carefully. The Netherlands-linked parcels have raised further questions. Investigators may now probe sourcing routes and payment channels. Additionally, they may analyse digital records from the suspects’ devices.
This case highlights how drug trafficking methods are changing rapidly. Darknet forums, encrypted apps and courier routes now shape newer networks. Therefore, agencies must fight both physical and digital crime together. In this case, the NCB has struck a major blow. Yet the wider network may still have many hidden layers.
