For most, Mulayamkottil Edison seemed to lead an ordinary life. A 35-year-old mechanical engineer from a wealthy family in Muvattupuzha, Kerala, Edison was known as a quiet man who rarely stepped out except to take his toddler to daycare.
That perception was shattered on June 29 when the Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB) arrested Edison at his home. He was accused of being a “level-four” darknet drug vendor operating an extensive distribution network across India.
Neighbours described Edison as a soft-spoken man who worked in Germany and Bengaluru before returning to his hometown. Yet behind this facade, Edison — known by the codename ‘Ketamelon’ online — was allegedly trafficking LSD blotters, ketamine, and cryptocurrency valued at around Rs 1 crore. His arrest followed four months of intensive police surveillance, exposing a significant darknet drug syndicate.
A graduate of Viswajyothi Engineering College in Vazhakulam, Edison came from a well-established family with a father retired from the state electricity board and a brother who is a doctor.
According to NCB sources, Edison’s involvement in synthetic drugs started about a decade ago, initially for personal use. Over time, this evolved into trafficking, earning him his online alias due to his early trade in ketamine.
Two years ago, he expanded his operations by sourcing LSD blotters from UK vendors like Gunga Din and Tribe Seuss. His associate and college friend, Arun Thomas — also arrested — reportedly collected parcels at Kochi’s foreign post office to hand over to Edison for distribution.
The LSD blotters, difficult to detect in customs x-rays, were smuggled concealed among other items. Edison is believed to have sold these drugs through a wide network spanning Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, Chennai, and northern regions like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
At the time of his arrest, Edison was reportedly the only level-four darknet drug vendor identified in India, marking a significant breakthrough in combating synthetic drug trafficking.
