LUCKNOW, May 26 -- The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has arrested the alleged mastermind of an organised narcotics racket accused of supplying imported drugs to students in educational institutions across the NCR region through dark web networks and social media platforms. "The accused, identified as 48-year-old Gaurav Khanna, a resident of Rajnagar Extension in Ghaziabad, was arrested from Pari Chowk in Greater Noida on Saturday afternoon," the STF said in a press note on Monday. According to STF officials, Khanna was wanted in connection with an earlier case registered at Nandgram police station in Ghaziabad following the arrest of his associate, Karan Rajeev, on May 5. During that operation, police recovered 252 grams of charas, 143 grams of imported marijuana (OG), 72 grams of alprazolam powder, and 67 grams of THC oil marketed under the name "Baba Kush." The police also seized electronic weighing machines, multiple bank documents, debit and credit cards, four mobile phones, and a Honda Accord car. The STF said Khanna allegedly ran a sophisticated online narcotics network that procured imported drugs through international suppliers contacted via the dark web. Payments for the consignments were allegedly made using cryptocurrency, while deliveries were arranged through courier services using fake addresses. Investigators said the accused would allegedly collect unattended courier packages with the help of insiders and distribute the narcotics through broadcast lists and community groups on social media platforms. "The gang primarily targeted students studying in colleges and hostels across Delhi-NCR, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh," an STF official said in a press note. Officials added that the narcotics were allegedly delivered through app-based logistics and ride-hailing services. To evade suspicion, the consignments were reportedly packaged as pen drives or computer accessories. "During interrogation, Khanna allegedly told investigators that he started the online narcotics trade in 2019 and sourced OG marijuana from Thailand and hashish from Himachal Pradesh. He allegedly sold OG at Rs.1,400 per gram, hashish at Rs.4,500 per 10 grams, Baba Kush at Rs.5,500 per gram and LSD at Rs.4,400 per gram," the press note added. Police said the accused completed a BBA degree from DAV PG College, Faridabad, in 1999 and has a criminal history involving cases of assault, attempted murder and violations under the Arms Act in Haryana and Delhi. STF officials said he had also been convicted in one case and was currently out on bail....