private ByteBuffer processBinaryCommand(RequestReader request, Cache cache) {
    ByteBuffer buffer = request.getRequest();
    ByteBuffer response = request.getResponse();

    KeyWrapper key = getKey(buffer, HEADER_LENGTH);

    Region<Object, ValueWrapper> r = getMemcachedRegion(cache);
    try {
      r.destroy(key);
      if (isQuiet()) {
        return null;
      }
      response.putShort(POSITION_RESPONSE_STATUS, ResponseStatus.NO_ERROR.asShort());
    } catch (EntryNotFoundException e) {
      response.putShort(POSITION_RESPONSE_STATUS, ResponseStatus.KEY_NOT_FOUND.asShort());
    } catch (Exception e) {
      response = handleBinaryException(key, request, response, "delete", e);
    }
    if (getLogger().fineEnabled()) {
      getLogger().fine("delete:key:" + key);
    }
    return response;
  }
The command "delete" allows for explicit deletion of items: delete <key> [noreply]\r\n
geode-memcached/src/main/java/org/apache/geode/internal/memcached/commands/DeleteCommand.java