US revokes visas of Indian executives, families over fentanyl precursor trafficking
In a statement, the US Embassy confirmed the visa actions were taken under sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act
The US Embassy in New Delhi has revoked and subsequently denied visas for certain Indian business executives and corporate leaders, as well as their close family members, for their alleged involvement in trafficking fentanyl precursors.
The action is part of the Trump Administration's intensified efforts to combat the flow of dangerous synthetic narcotics into the United States.
Fentanyl precursors are chemicals used in the illicit production of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that has been a leading cause of overdose deaths in the United States.
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In a statement, the US Embassy confirmed the visa actions were taken under sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
It also warned that executives connected to companies with known links to fentanyl precursor trafficking will be subject to heightened scrutiny in future visa applications.
"The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi remains steadfast in its commitment to combating illicit drug trafficking. Individuals and organizations involved in the illegal production and trafficking of drugs to the United States, along with their families, will face consequences that may include being denied access to the United States," affirmed Chargé d'affaires Jorgan Andrews.
The embassy emphasised that stopping the flow of fentanyl and its precursors is a top priority for the US and expressed gratitude for the close cooperation from the Government of India in combating this "shared challenge".
This move follows recent legal actions by the US Department of Justice against India-based companies and their executives, reports Reuters.
In January, two Indian firms, Raxuter Chemicals and Athos Chemicals, were charged with conspiring to distribute and import fentanyl precursors. The US Federal Drug Enforcement Administration also charged Vasudha Pharma Chem Ltd and three of its senior employees with similar offenses in March.
The visa revocations come shortly after US President Donald Trump, in a statement to the US Congress, named India among 23 major drug transit or illicit drug-producing countries, while noting that the list does not necessarily reflect the counter-drug efforts of the listed governments.
