Engineering graduate held in Bhubaneswar with LSD blots, NCB probes dark web links

In a significant crackdown on cyber-enabled drug trafficking, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has arrested a 23-year-old engineering graduate in Bhubaneswar and recovered six blots of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) from his possession. The youth, identified as Aryaman Patnaik, was taken into custody following a targeted raid at his residence in Maitri Vihar.

Drugs Sourced via Dark Web, Delivered by Courier

According to NCB sources, Patnaik had reportedly sourced the potent psychedelic substance through a dark web network, with suspected links to European drug suppliers. The contraband is believed to have been delivered via courier, a tactic increasingly used by darknet operators to avoid detection.

Engineering Graduate Under Surveillance

Patnaik, who completed his engineering degree from a college in Noida, had returned to Bhubaneswar earlier this year. Officials revealed that he had been under surveillance for nearly two weeks after intelligence inputs indicated his involvement in a suspected narcotics transaction.

Digital Trail Under Scanner

The NCB will now examine his digital devices, including smartphones and laptops, to trace his communication with international suppliers and unearth possible links to a larger drug distribution network in Odisha and beyond. Authorities are also trying to determine whether the LSD was meant for personal use or intended for resale at higher profits.

LSD Trafficking Through Cryptocurrency

LSD, a synthetic hallucinogenic drug, is commonly trafficked through encrypted dark web platforms, with buyers paying in cryptocurrency to mask transactions. The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests have not been ruled out as officials dig deeper into Patnaik’s alleged connections.

Meanwhile, The Excise Department has arrested drug peddler Akash Nayak in Bhubaneswar for his involvement in brown sugar trafficking. He was apprehended from the Kedarapalli slum area.

Akash was reportedly conducting illegal drug trade in several locations including Forest Park, Mahisakhala, and Dhabakhalia slums. Today morning, he was caught red-handed by the Excise team while selling brown sugar near a banyan tree close to Kedarapalli slum.

Major Seizure Worth Rs 14 Lakh

A total of 140 grams of brown sugar was seized from his possession, with an estimated market value of around Rs 14 lakh. Reports suggest that his main targets were college students.

The raid was conducted under the direction of Excise Commissioner P. Anvesha Reddy.

Excise Officials: Youth Targeting Students Across City

"With the directions of P Anvesha Reddy, the brown sugar investigation has intensified in Bhubaneswar and our special squad in the morning came to know that there is an infamous Banayan tree in Kedarpali slum where some antisocial people were consuming drugs. They got the information where people were doing drugs business. Our team nabbed Akash Nayak, youth aged 24 with 140 gram of brown sugar. With prelimanary investigation, we came to know that in this one year, Akash was engaged in bad friend circle and not only is he consuming drugs but he is visiting various schools and colleges on his bike and targeting school and college students, mainly in forest park area."  said Debasish Patel, Excise Superintendent.