The United States has imposed visa restrictions on 13 individuals linked to the Indian online pharmacy KS International Traders, accused of selling counterfeit prescription pills laced with fentanyl. According to the U.S. State Department, these individuals are close associates of KS International Traders and its owner.
Key Takeaways
The U.S. imposed visa restrictions on 13 people connected to Indian online pharmacy KS International Traders for selling counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl. The firm was previously sanctioned, and the move aligns with broader efforts to combat drug trafficking.
- US restricts visas for 13 linked to Mumbai-based KS International Traders
- Firm accused of selling hundreds of thousands of counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills
- Trump administration designated illicit fentanyl as a 'weapon of mass destruction'
- India's ministries did not immediately respond to requests for comment
KS International Traders, based in Mumbai, operates a website that could not be accessed as listed in U.S. government records. No names or contacts for senior executives were available. The firm has been previously sanctioned by the U.S. for supplying counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills, which have caused significant harm to families and communities nationwide.
The move aligns with broader efforts by the Trump administration to combat drug trafficking. President Donald Trump designated illicit fentanyl as a "weapon of mass destruction" due to its role in a surge of overdose deaths linked to illicit use. State Department spokesperson Thomas Pigott emphasized that those complicit in poisoning Americans will be denied entry to the U.S.
India's foreign and health ministries did not immediately respond to requests for comment. This action is part of a broader policy aimed at stopping the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the United States, reflecting ongoing efforts to disrupt trafficking networks that harm Americans.
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