Binance Joins Forces With India in High-Stakes Operation to Crack ‘Ketamelon’

India has dismantled its most advanced darknet drug empire in a groundbreaking cyber crackdown, exposing blockchain’s hidden battleground and showcasing unstoppable enforcement power through global crypto-exchange collaboration.

India’s Cyber Dragnet Collides With Blockchain—Dark Empire Shattered

Binance shared on Aug. 21 that it assisted India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Data Security Council of India (DSCI) in dismantling “Ketamelon,” the country’s most sophisticated darknet-driven drug network. The operation uncovered Edison Babu, a former Kerala-based engineer, as the architect of a narcotics empire that operated under the guise of an e-commerce business. Just days earlier, on Aug. 19, Binance outlined in a blog post its involvement in “Operation Melon,” in which it highlighted the growing importance of exchange cooperation in combating digital crime. The crypto exchange stressed:

This landmark takedown offers a window into how drug trafficking is evolving in the age of blockchain, and how collaborative compliance can become a formidable line of defense against emerging threats.

Binance also provided details about Babu’s hidden life and the network’s logistics. Authorities confirmed that more than 600 drug parcels were distributed across India through postal and courier services. Parcels had been linked back to international suppliers, including a source named “Gunga Din.” When investigators closed in, they discovered drugs valued at over $120,000, crypto assets worth roughly $80,000, electronic devices, and packaging materials. Babu, who had once worked in engineering and briefly ran a restaurant in Aluva, used encrypted communication, darknet markets, and Tails OS to conceal his activity. Payments were made in privacy-focused digital currencies such as monero, but investigators pieced together blockchain activity with exchange support.

The NCB noted that success depended on coordinated cyber and financial intelligence efforts. The blog underscored: “As part of the investigation, DSCI and Indian law enforcement collaborated with global partners, including Binance and other digital platforms, to analyze crypto activity associated with the network.” It further added:

Binance’s compliance and investigations teams provided wallet intelligence and analytics support to aid in identifying the suspects.

Nils Andersen-Röed, global head of Binance’s Financial Intelligence Unit, reiterated that even privacy tools cannot completely obscure activity, since “criminals may operate in the shadows of the darknet and use privacy coins thinking they’re invisible, but they inevitably leave digital traces.” While critics emphasize risks posed by crypto, advocates argue that this case demonstrates its dual nature: it can be misused, but with transparency and exchange collaboration, it can also be a powerful tool for enforcement.

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