The United States has revoked and denied visas to several Indian corporate executives and their families due to their alleged connections to the trafficking of fentanyl precursors, the American embassy in New Delhi announced on Thursday. Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, was linked to thousands of deaths in the U.S. last year, prompting a major crackdown by the Trump administration.
While the embassy’s statement did not identify any individuals, it confirmed the action could render them and their close family members “ineligible for travel to the United States”. The embassy also stated it is “flagging executives connected with companies known to have trafficked fentanyl precursors for heightened scrutiny if and when they apply for US visas”.
A Firm Stance on Drug Trafficking
The U.S. has made combating the flow of this drug a top priority.
- In a post on X, the Embassy stated, “Stopping the flow of fentanyl and its precursors into the United States is one of our highest priorities. We have revoked visas for company executives and family for the unlawful involvement in controlled substance trafficking”.
- Chargé d’Affaires Jorgan Andrews reiterated this stance, saying, “Individuals and organisations 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”.
The Fentanyl Crisis and Global Context
Fentanyl overdose is the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45. The drug is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine and is responsible for nearly 70% of the more than 107,000 drug overdose deaths in the U.S. in the past year.
The visa revocations are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to secure U.S. borders and combat drug trafficking organizations. In March, a report from the office of Tulsi Gabbard, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI), identified India and China as “state actors” that enable the supply of precursor chemicals for illicit fentanyl production. The report specified, “China remains the primary source country for illicit fentanyl precursor chemicals and pill pressing equipment, followed by India”. The U.S. embassy thanked the Indian government for its cooperation in addressing this “transnational threat”.
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