US revokes visas of Indian executives over alleged fentanyl trafficking

September 19, 2025

The US embassy in India has revoked and denied visas for certain Indian business executives and corporate leaders allegedly involved in trafficking fentanyl precursor chemicals. These chemicals are used to produce synthetic opioids that have caused numerous overdose deaths in the US. The embassy announced that individuals connected to companies known for trafficking these precursors, along with their close family members, may be ineligible for US travel and will face heightened scrutiny when applying for visas.

Who is affected

Indian business executives and corporate leaders allegedly involved in fentanyl precursor trafficking
Close family members of these individuals
Companies known to have trafficked fentanyl precursors (including specifically named Raxuter Chemicals, Athos Chemicals, and Vasudha Pharma Chem Ltd)
Bhavesh Lathiya (senior executive of Raxuter Chemicals) and three senior employees of Vasudha Pharma Chem Ltd
Americans affected by the fentanyl crisis

What action is being taken

The US embassy is revoking and denying visas for implicated Indian business executives
The embassy is subjecting executives connected with companies known to traffic fentanyl precursors to heightened scrutiny when applying for visas
The US Department of Justice has charged two India-based companies and individuals with conspiring to distribute and import fentanyl precursors
US federal prosecutors are charging Vasudha Pharma Chem Ltd and three senior employees with illegally manufacturing and distributing fentanyl precursors

Why it matters

Fentanyl is a leading cause of overdose deaths in the US
Stopping the flow of fentanyl and its precursors is described as a top priority for the US
The action is part of broader efforts to keep Americans safe from dangerous synthetic narcotics
This represents international cooperation to combat drug trafficking, specifically targeting the supply chain of deadly opioids

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC