In a major breakthrough in an ongoing narcotics investigation, the Pune City Police have identified a massive digital money trail linked to the illegal production and sale of drugs, including high-grade hydroponic marijuana. The probe has led detectives to 25 cryptocurrency wallets containing an estimated $5 lakh (roughly Rs 4.5 crore) generated from the illicit trade across Pune and other parts of Maharashtra.
Dark Web and International Links Uncovered
Deputy Commissioner of Police Somay Munde revealed that these crypto wallets were found to be operational on the dark web and linked to transactions originating from Scandinavian countries. "This probe will explore the financial aspect of the entire crime and how the money was rotated by the suspects," Munde stated. The police have now sought the expertise of the Financial Intelligence Unit of India (FIU) to unravel how the illicit cash was converted into digital currencies and which bank accounts facilitated these transactions.
"We will try to freeze these wallets," DCP Munde added, highlighting the force's focus on crippling the financial backbone of the narcotics network. The investigation took a significant turn following a bust on December 18, reported by TOI, where police arrested an engineering student, two MBA graduates, and two men from Mumbai, seizing drugs worth Rs 3.5 crore.
AI, Crypto, and an International Supply Chain
The racket was sophisticated. The two arrested MBA graduates had reportedly left their corporate jobs to establish an illegal drug processing unit in a Hinjewadi flat, even employing Artificial Intelligence in their operations. After the bust, police discovered that the suspects extensively used cryptocurrencies, the dark web, and social media platforms for manufacturing, purchasing, and selling drugs in the city.
The network's tentacles stretched beyond Indian borders. Police have decided to seek assistance from law enforcement agencies in Bhutan and Thailand to trace key suspects based in these countries. "We have identified the two Bhutan-based persons as they courier drugs to Pune in the form of LED strips. The bulbs of these strips contained drugs. We seized the courier packs and took down the address of the two senders," Munde explained.
He further detailed the supply chain: "The drugs landed in Bhutan from Thailand, and we have also identified the Thailand-based man." In a connected move, police also arrested two men from Kurla and Ghatkopar in Mumbai for their alleged involvement in the racket.
Following the Digital Money Trail
This case underscores a growing trend where organized crime leverages technology for anonymity. The use of encrypted dark web markets and decentralized cryptocurrencies presents a unique challenge for law enforcement. The collaboration with the FIU is a critical step in following the digital money trail, which is often more revealing than the physical one. The outcome of this financial investigation could set a precedent for tackling similar tech-savvy criminal enterprises in the future, as authorities aim to not only arrest individuals but also confiscate the proceeds of their illegal activities.
