Indian National Arrested for Procuring LSD with Cryptocurrency

An Indian national has been apprehended by the Anti-Narcotics Cell division in Gurugram, Haryana, for using cryptocurrency to procure the psychedelic drug LSD. According to authorities, the suspect purchased the drugs to distribute them at several high-profile parties in the region.

Indian authorities mentioned that the suspect purchased the drugs, designed in the form of ‘children’s tattoo stickers’, from an international source using several digital assets. The accused, Mohammed Shahbaz, is a native of New Town in Kolkata, West Bengal. Shahbaz told authorities that the drugs were always distributed at several high-profile parties around Gurugram.

The suspect was arrested in a coordinated effort on Wednesday, February 19, at Sector 43 in Gurugram, residing at a rented guest accommodation in the Saket area of Delhi. He was apprehended after a tip-off from sources aware of his covert activity.

Indian Man Docked for Procuring Drugs with Intent to Distribute

About 2.7 grams of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), designed to look like children’s tattoo stickers, were seized from the suspect, confirmed by a senior official during the operation.

The Anti-Narcotics Cell’s Sub-Inspector Karamjit stated that Shahbaz confessed to obtaining the drugs from a website called Bioness, accessed via the Tor browser. He indicated that the payment method used was cryptocurrency, which likely aids the drug ring in concealing the sale and movement of illicit substances.

The drugs take the shape of a stamp ticket, making them undetectable through most scanners, which criminals may have relied on to evade detection in the past. The drug is usually ingested orally, with users placing it on their tongues for hallucinogenic effects.

Notably, there have been many cases of Indian youths using LSD at rave parties, indicating its rising popularity. “LSD is widely used in the US, Russia, and Europe, and we are observing a rising trend in India,” an official stated.

The Dark Web and Cryptocurrencies Connection

An FIR has been filed against the suspect under Section 22(c) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the Sushant Lok police station. Investigations are ongoing, and Shahbaz will remain in custody as authorities attempt to apprehend his accomplices both locally and internationally.

Shahbaz, who has been working as a photographer in Delhi for the past year, has been remanded to four days of police custody, during which officials will question him about his international connections. The rise in criminal activities on the dark web has increased, stressing the need for regulators to adopt a proactive approach toward cryptocurrency regulation. Such activities include funding terrorism, illustrated by a recent case involving a South African suspect apprehended for using digital assets to fund terrorists.