Lucknow, June 16: In the last year, the Uttar Pradesh Police’s Special Task Force (STF) has apprehended two dozen youths from six gangs who were acquiring drugs online over the dark web and trafficking narcotics to other nations.
According to STF sources, 24 more young people involved in such actions in Lucknow are being investigated and would be detained shortly. According to reports, once the NCB and Delhi Police cracked down on internet drug syndicates, gang members moved their emphasis to southern regions as well as Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
According to an STF officer, tramadol is the most prevalent narcotic transported from cities to the United States and Canada because it is illegal in many countries but readily available here.
They are not listed in the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances schedule. Ayurvedic medications containing opium, such as Kamini Vidrawan Ras and Barshasa, are also being illegally transported from the city to Western nations.
Almost every region of the city, including Wazirganj, Aishbagh, and Bijnore, has gangs involved in trafficking these substances to foreign nations. Earlier this week, the STF apprehended a gang of techies who sold illegal narcotics and psychotropic substances on the dark web and charged the money using e-wallets or bitcoins.
Deepak Kumar Singh, Deputy SP, STF, who has discovered multiple similar gangs in the city, stated that the STF is seeking to identify more individuals participating in the racket.
Singh stated that the syndicate used ‘ToR,’ an anonymous network that conceals your identity when you browse the web, distribute material, or engage in other online activities, and then creates bitcoin to avoid the money trail.
“A drug network busted by the STF in the city recently had smuggled these drugs to the US over 150 times. Gang members used to place a label on drug consignments indicating that the package included a natural immune booster, a combination of 14 herbs, and ayurvedic remedies. Once the consignment arrived at its destination, they were paid via bitcoin and PayPal,” he added, adding that two major operators associated to the busted gang are currently under investigation and would be detained shortly.
Meanwhile, STF sources said that the mastermind of a group detained on December 26 in Lucknow used to lure prospective buyers via Instagram, Telegram, and Skype.
