Bangalore: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) busted a drug syndicate here Tuesday and arrested four members including the mastermind. The drug syndicate was purchasing the contraband through ‘darknet’ and made payments through bitcoins. NCB officials said that the syndicate members are also involved in the drug scandal that has recently hit the Kannada film industry.
The NCB said the arrest was made possible by its Bangalore team. The members of the team made a detailed analysis after a parcel from Netherlands, containing 750 MDMA (popularly known as ecstasy)tablets, was seized in July.
All the syndicate members – the consignee K Pramodh, mastermind Fahim and their associates A Hashir and SS Shetty – were arrested September 24. Interrogation of the four may lead to further arrests, the NCB said in a statement here.
‘Darknet’ refers to the deep hidden internet platform that is used for narcotics sale and other illegal activities. The secret alleys of the onion router are used to stay away from the surveillance of law enforcement agencies.
Fahim learnt the concept of purchasing drugs online (darknet) through a web series. He started purchasing bitcoins and using it ordered drugs from ‘Darknet’, the NCB said. “He used to deliver consignments at various addresses in India. He also sold drugs to students of various colleges in Udupi (coastal district headquarters town of Karnataka),” the NCB said.
The NCB had earlier arrested here three people hailing from Kerala. They were allegedly supplying drugs to actors and singers in the Kannada film industry.
The Karnataka CCB is investigating the alleged drug abuse among bigwigs, including those in the film industry. About 15 people have so far been arrested in the drugs case.
A few others wanted in the case are at large including former minister late Jeevaraj Alva’s son Aditya Alva, the police said.
PTI