NCB Cracks Down on Pan-India Darknet Drug Network 'Team Kalki'
In a significant operation targeting online drug trafficking, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has successfully dismantled a widespread darknet-based drug distribution network operating under the name "Team Kalki". The crackdown resulted in the seizure of large quantities of synthetic narcotics, including LSD, MDMA, and liquid MDMA, marking a major blow to illicit activities conducted through encrypted platforms.
Extensive Seizures and Nationwide Dispatch
According to NCB officials, the network dispatched more than 1,000 consignments across India since January 2025. Some parcels were already intercepted by enforcement agencies in key states such as Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, and Karnataka, with details of these cases currently under analysis. During the operation, officers recovered substantial amounts of drugs from 13 domestically intercepted parcels and 2 parcels originating from the Netherlands linked to the network.
The seized narcotics include:
- 2,338 LSD blotters
- 160 MDMA (ecstasy) pills weighing 77.517 grams
- 73.612 grams of charas
- 3.642 grams of amphetamine
- 3.6 kg of liquid MDMA
Intelligence-Led Operation and Key Arrests
Acting on intelligence gathered over the past three months, NCB officials conducted a targeted operation in New Delhi that led to the bust of the network. Investigations revealed that the darknet vendor account "Team Kalki" was run by Anurag Thakur along with his associate Vikas Rathi, both of whom are repeat offenders previously arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
Officials stated that Thakur and Rathi met during their incarceration—Rathi was lodged in Tihar Jail in connection with a charas trafficking case registered by the Delhi Police Special Cell, while Thakur was imprisoned in a methamphetamine trafficking case booked by the Delhi Police Crime Branch. After their release, they allegedly started operating the darknet drug network, leveraging their criminal experience.
Operational Tactics and International Links
Initially, the accused operated through the darknet forum "Dread", where their vendor account reportedly maintained a 4-star rating, indicating successful completion of numerous orders. After establishing their presence there, they expanded operations to the encrypted Session messaging application to manage orders and delivery more discreetly.
Authorities said the accused allegedly sourced LSD and MDMA from international darknet vendors based in the Netherlands, Poland, and Germany. Customers across India placed orders through encrypted platforms to maintain anonymity, highlighting the sophisticated nature of the network's operations.
Financial Investigations and Ongoing Efforts
Multiple electronic devices were seized from the accused, and investigators identified a cryptocurrency wallet linked to the operation. Officials explained that temporary unhosted wallets were created for receiving payments, after which the funds were quickly transferred through several layers of intermediary wallets to obscure tracking and evade detection.
The NCB emphasized that further investigations are under way to identify other members of the network, trace financial transactions, and uncover the international supply chain linked to the operation. Efforts continue to dismantle the entire ecosystem of the "Team Kalki" darknet drug network, aiming to curb the flow of synthetic narcotics in India.
