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The United States has imposed visa restrictions connected the proprietor and respective associates of an India-based online pharmacy accused of trafficking illicit fentanyl-laced drugs into the US.US authorities section spokesperson Tommy Pigott said connected Tuesday that visa restrictions were being imposed connected 13 individuals associated with KS International Traders and its owner.“The US section of authorities is taking steps to enforce visa restrictions connected 13 individuals associated with KS International Traders and its owner, which has sold counterfeit prescriptions laced with illicit fentanyl to unsuspecting Americans successful our country,” Pigott said successful a statement.According to PTI, the restrictions were imposed nether Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the US Immigration and Nationality Act.
US cites fentanyl trafficking concerns
Pigott said KS International Traders allegedly generated gross done trafficking illicit fentanyl, which US President Donald Trump designated arsenic a “Weapon of Mass Destruction” nether an enforcement order.“This enactment underscores the United States’ and India's enduring and shared committedness to dismantling illicit cause entities and disrupting trafficking networks that harm Americans,” Pigott said.
“Those complicit successful poisoning Americans volition beryllium denied introduction to the United States,” helium added.
Earlier sanctions against Indian nationals
In September 2024, the US treasury department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned 2 Indian nationals, Sadiq Abbas Habib Sayyed and Khizar Mohammad Iqbal Shaikh, on with KS International Traders, besides known arsenic KS Pharmacy.The online pharmacy was allegedly operated by Shaikh.According to the OFAC, the 2 men allegedly worked with traffickers based successful the US and the Dominican Republic to marketplace counterfeit pills arsenic morganatic pharmaceutical products.
Authorities said the pills were really laced with fentanyl, fentanyl analogues and methamphetamine.
More India-linked firms sanctioned
Last month, the OFAC besides sanctioned Satishkumar Hareshbhai Sutaria for allegedly trading fentanyl precursor chemicals utilized successful the accumulation of illicit fentanyl.The US bureau alleged that Sutaria, on with salesperson Yuktakumari Ashishkumar Modi, facilitated shipments of precursor chemicals to Mexico and Guatemala.According to PTI, the 2 allegedly utilized India-based firms SR Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals and Agrat Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals to transportation retired the transactions.Indian authorities arrested Sutaria and Modi successful March 2025 successful transportation with the case.
