In a significant crackdown on illegal narcotics trafficking, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested Aryaman Pattnaik (23) from Bhubaneswar for allegedly procuring synthetic drugs via the dark web. The arrest followed the interception of a suspicious parcel at Paradip Port.
Officials stated that the parcel contained 15–16 LSD blotters and had been shipped from Europe. Flagged during a routine inspection at the Paradip cargo depot, customs authorities immediately alerted the NCB, which tracked the consignment to Pattnaik’s rented residence in Maitrivihar, Bhubaneswar, before conducting a raid and seizing the narcotics. The estimated street value of the LSD is Rs1.5 lakh ($1,500–$1,600).
Pattnaik, a native of Bhubaneswar and an engineering graduate from Noida, Delhi, reportedly became involved in drug activities during his student days. Investigators revealed that he later joined a drug syndicate and learned to procure narcotics via encrypted platforms on the dark web.
Authorities are continuing their probe to ascertain the duration of Pattnaik’s involvement and whether he had procured other illicit substances through the dark web.
This arrest highlights ongoing efforts by the NCB and customs authorities to disrupt international synthetic drug networks operating through online platforms.
