US Sanctions Two Indians, Pharmacy for Trafficking Fentanyl Pills
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has sanctioned two Indian nationals, Sadiq Abbas Habib Sayyed and Khizar Mohammad Iqbal Shaikh, along with Shaikh's India-based online pharmacy, for supplying counterfeit prescription pills laced with fentanyl to the United States. The action freezes their U.S. assets and prohibits business dealings with them. U.S. authorities stated the network distributed hundreds of thousands of fake pills, highlighting a growing concern over India-based operations in the global illicit drug trade.
Unpacked:
India is becoming a key source due to increased regulation in China, which previously dominated fentanyl production. As China imposed stricter controls on fentanyl and precursor chemicals, traffickers shifted operations to India, where enforcement and oversight are still developing, facilitating the export of both finished fentanyl and its precursors to other countries, including the United States and Mexico.
These pharmacies pose as legitimate businesses, marketing themselves as sources for discounted prescription drugs. However, they often sell counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl or other illicit substances. Customers, believing they are buying safe, genuine medication, are unknowingly exposed to dangerous drugs, contributing to overdose and public health risks.
Fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills have intensified the opioid crisis, becoming the leading cause of overdose deaths among Americans aged 18 to 45. These pills often mimic legitimate medications, leading unsuspecting users to ingest deadly doses of fentanyl, which is highly potent even in small amounts.
Under the U.S.-India Drug Policy Framework, both countries work together to fight illicit drug trafficking. Their efforts include sharing intelligence, improving public health strategies, and targeting the global supply chain to disrupt the production and distribution of synthetic opioids like fentanyl.