Indian Police Bust Dark Web Drug Ring That Targeted Students

A secret drug lab hidden in India’s Rajasthan sand dunes is now out of business. Police say the operators learned their trade from the dark web.

Their dangerous product was meant for a vulnerable market. They were targeting the state’s young students.

The Drug Plan Executed By Two Inmates

36-Year-Old Monu Ojha from Ahmedabad and 40-Year-Old Govind Singh from Shergarh were both in prison when they met. They became acquainted with one another inside prison. That connection became the foundation for a criminal enterprise after their release.

Their technical know-how came from a shadowy source. Investigators from the Gujarat ATS and Jodhpur Rural Police confirmed the pair learned how to synthesize MD drugs from detailed tutorials found on the dark web. This underscores how the dark web and digital spaces have become universal classrooms for crime, from drug manufacturing to large-scale financial fraud, as seen in the recent bust of an ₹84 Cr ($10M) cyber scam network by Indian police.

Monu Ojha was no amateur. Police describe him as an expert in this illicit chemistry. He had a prior history of manufacturing MD drugs in Coorg and Bangalore. In fact, he was already a wanted man in a separate case from Gujarat.

Using his expertise and their dark web research, the duo hatched a plan. They decided to set up their own production facility.

The Isolated Drug Laboratory

They needed a hidden location. They chose a room built in Govind Singh’s field in the Shergarh area. It was strategically placed in an isolated spot between sand dunes.

They deliberately set up their lab in this remote location to avoid residents becoming suspicious of their operations, and also because they used very hazardous chemicals. Rural SP Narayan Togas emphasized the danger, noting the substances can cause severe eye irritation and even permanent vision loss.

Inside the lab, their operation was surprisingly methodical. They used a deep freezer to carefully mix and cool the volatile chemicals. After this process, the mixture was heated to complete the creation of the MD drugs.

The chemicals needed for this op didn’t come from Rajasthan. They got it from industrial spots in Gujarat. You can find those chemicals pretty easily in cities like Surat, Vapi, and Valsad.

Drug Sales Targeting Youths and Students

During preliminary questioning, the accused revealed their intended customer base. Their business plan was particularly alarming. They admitted to targeting the youth of Rajasthan for sales.

Their specific focus was on students in schools and colleges across the state. Targeting young folks like that makes their crimes way worse for society. This case underscores that threats to students are multifaceted, extending beyond physical substances to digital dangers, as seen in the recent exposure of decades of student and staff data in a massive school district breach. After someone snitched, the cops hit the factory and grabbed all the drug-making materials. They also arrested six individuals.

This was the group’s first production run at this specific Shergarh location. Authorities are now digging deeper. They are investigating the exact quantity of drugs already manufactured.

A major focus is also on mapping the planned supply network. The drugs were supposed to be spread across several districts throughout Rajasthan, according to their plan. It will become more apparent, once all six of these individuals are interrogated, how the entire operation was to function.

The bust highlights a modern threat. It connects digital criminal resources on the dark web with traditional narcotics manufacturing. Prison gangs can easily turn into larger operations outside of prison walls.

This incident should cause both teachers and parents alike to be aware of the threats that youths face. Drug dealers view students as a readily available target; therefore, it is essential for adults to converse with youth about the dangers that they may encounter and provide means for keeping them safe.