Global Drug Cartel Busted: NCB’s ‘Operation Med Max’ Leads to 8 Arrests Across 4 Continents, Major Crackdowns in US and Australia

New Delhi | July 2, 2025 — In a landmark international crackdown, India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has dismantled a sophisticated drug syndicate operating across more than 10 countries and four continents under ‘Operation Med Max’, exposing the growing nexus of digital drug trade, crypto payments, and dark web logistics.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah congratulated the NCB and associated agencies for their swift and coordinated action. He stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is committed to eliminating every drug cartel to protect India’s youth, regardless of where these networks operate from.

“Congratulations to NCB and all agencies on busting a global drug cartel. The probe is a stellar example of multi-agency coordination,” said Amit Shah in a post on X, praising the success that has led to 8 arrests, 5 consignment seizures, and international operations in the US and Australia.

The crackdown began on May 25, 2025, with a vehicle interception near Delhi’s Mandi House, where NCB officials seized 3.7 kg of Tramadol from two individuals—both B.Pharma graduates. This small bust unraveled a vast network trafficking illegal pharmaceutical drugs via encrypted channels and international drop-shippers.

Subsequent leads took officials to Roorkee, Mayur Vihar, and Udupi, uncovering digital data of 50 international consignments, including:

• 29 from USA to USA
• 18 from Australia to Australia
• 1 each to Estonia, Spain, and Switzerland

The data was shared with Interpol and global counterparts, triggering further crackdowns. The US DEA arrested a major re-shipper, Joel Hall, in Alabama, seizing over 17,000 pills and crypto wallets, while Australia shut down an illegal pill factory linked to the syndicate.

Digital Drug Trade: Telegram, Crypto, and Call Centers

The syndicate relied on Telegram, crypto wallets, PayPal, and Western Union for coordination and payments. They sold through a major Indian B2B e-commerce platform, using premium vendor status to attract buyers globally. A call center in Udupi staffed by 10 individuals managed sales, often without knowledge of the operation’s illegality.

• Payments were collected in cryptocurrency, and routed through hawala networks.
• Orders were processed anonymously, and deliveries made by international drop-shippers.
• Repeat buyers were often turned into stockists or re-shippers, growing the network organically.

 Crackdown Across Borders

• USA: Arrest of key re-shipper and seizure of Zolpidem-laced parcels
• Australia: Illegal factory dismantled
• UAE: Mastermind traced; cooperation with UAE authorities is underway
• India: Arrests made in Delhi, Jaipur, Udupi, Roorkee

The NCB has identified multiple stockists and financial handlers across nations, with further actions in progress.

The NCB is now conducting financial probes into crypto wallets and cyber forensics to dismantle remaining digital and financial infrastructure. Collaborations with private platforms and international agencies aim to shut down illegal online pharmacies and prevent resurgence of such syndicates.

This operation marks a pivotal moment in the war against tech-enabled drug trafficking, proving the urgent need for global intelligence sharing, cybercrime collaboration, and strict regulation of digital marketplaces.

As India strengthens its resolve to shield the youth from narcotics, Operation Med Max stands as a blueprint for international cooperation in the digital age.