US Revokes Visas of Indian Executives Over Fentanyl Trafficking Links
The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi has revoked visas for several Indian business executives and corporate leaders allegedly involved in trafficking fentanyl precursors. This action is part of a broader U.S. effort to combat the flow of synthetic narcotics. The embassy stated that the individuals, their companies, and their families will face consequences, including being denied access to the United States. The move follows the indictment of two Indian chemical companies by the U.S. Department of Justice earlier this year.
Unpacked:
Stricter Chinese regulations on fentanyl precursors have pushed illicit production and trafficking toward India, where regulatory oversight is less stringent and the chemical industry is large and complex, making enforcement more difficult.
Some Indian chemical companies are accused of supplying fentanyl precursors to Mexican cartels, which then produce fentanyl for smuggling into the U.S. These operations often use mislabeling to disguise illegal shipments.
The U.S. Department of Justice indicted Indian companies and executives for unlawfully importing fentanyl precursors, and the U.S. Embassy has revoked visas, barring implicated individuals and their families from entering the U.S.
India has announced controls on the export of key fentanyl precursors and has cooperated with international agencies on narcotics intelligence, but enforcement challenges remain due to the industry’s scale and complexity.