US report links India to fentanyl supply as Trump ramps up tariff threats
“These groups [TCOs] are often enabled, both directly and indirectly, by state actors, such as China and India, as sources of precursors and equipment for drug traffickers,” the report stated
The United States has identified India alongside China as a "state actor" facilitating the supply of precursor chemicals used by transnational criminal organisations (TCOs) to produce illicit fentanyl, according to the latest Annual Threat Assessment (ATA) report from the US intelligence community.
Released on Tuesday (25 March) by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Tulsi Gabbard, the report highlights that fentanyl and other synthetic opioids remain the deadliest drugs trafficked into the US, with over 52,000 American lives lost in the 12 months leading up to October 2024.
"These groups [TCOs] are often enabled, both directly and indirectly, by state actors, such as China and India, as sources of precursors and equipment for drug traffickers," the report stated.
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It further noted, "China remains the primary source country for illicit fentanyl precursor chemicals and pill pressing equipment, followed by India."
This marks the first time India has been placed on the same level as China in relation to fentanyl precursor supply. In last year's assessment, India was mentioned as a minor supplier compared to China, which was identified as the primary source.
The report's release coincides with US President Donald Trump's intensified efforts to combat opioid-related deaths, a key issue shaping his administration's foreign policy stance.
Earlier this month, Trump declared that his government "would not rest until we have ended the fentanyl epidemic in America once and for all."
On 1 February, Trump imposed an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods, citing Beijing's failure to curb fentanyl trafficking. He also introduced 25% duties on imports from Canada and Mexico, alleging inadequate border enforcement.
Additionally, Trump has threatened reciprocal tariffs on multiple countries as part of his "Liberation Day" trade policy, set to take effect on 2 April. However, India is currently engaged in negotiations with the US to fast-track a free trade agreement that could potentially shield it from some of these new trade barriers.
