The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has taken a significant step in a major international drug trafficking investigation by filing a chargesheet before the Ernakulam District Sessions Court in Kochi. This legal action targets the infamous 'Ketamelon' darknet-based drug syndicate, which was busted earlier this year.
The Chargesheet and Key Accused
On Monday, the NCB's Cochin Zonal Unit submitted the chargesheet in one of the two cases registered following the bust. The central agency has named four individuals in the document. The alleged mastermind, Edison Babu from Muvattupuzha, and his accomplice, Arun Thomas, were arrested earlier. Two other accused, currently abroad, have also been arraigned.
Sandeep Sajeev, a resident of Hull, United Kingdom, who hails from North Paravoor, is accused of receiving drug deliveries—primarily LSD—ordered by Edison via the darknet. Sajeev allegedly repackaged the narcotics before sending them to India. The fourth accused, Harikrishnan Aji Nawas, with connections to Australia, is suspected of converting cryptocurrency received by Edison into cash and funneling it to multiple accounts.
Massive Seizures and International Links
The scale of the operation, codenamed 'Melon' and conducted in June, was substantial. The NCB's raids led to the seizure of 1,127 suspected LSD blots and 131.66 grams of ketamine. In a modern twist to the crime, the agency also confiscated cryptocurrency assets valued at approximately Rs 90 lakh.
Investigations revealed that 'Ketamelon' was India's only 'level 4' darknet vendor—a top-tier status—and had been actively operating for over two years. The syndicate's drugs were primarily sourced from a UK-based vendor known as Gunga Din, a reshipper for the globally notorious supplier Dr. Seuss, believed to be the world's largest source of LSD.
Ongoing Probe and Asset Attachment
The NCB has issued Blue Corner notices against Sajeev and Nawas to gather more details from authorities in the UK and Australia. Meanwhile, Pradeep Bhai from Varanasi, who allegedly supplied ketamine to Edison, remains under the agency's scrutiny. Edison is also accused of trafficking ketamine within India.
In a major financial blow to the racket, the NCB has attached assets belonging to Edison Babu worth over Rs 3 crore. These include a shopping complex in Muvattupuzha valued at around Rs 85 lakh, cryptocurrency worth Rs 1.50 crore, and another property in Idukki.
The chargesheet filed relates to the seizure from Edison's residence, where 847 LSD blots and 131.66g of ketamine were found during a raid. A separate case was registered for the seizure of drugs from three postal parcels on June 28. This comprehensive action marks a critical strike against a sophisticated digital-age drug network with deep international roots.
