Washington, D.C., USA: The United States has placed sanctions on two Indian citizens and an online pharmacy accused of distributing fake prescription medications containing fentanyl and other illegal substances, as part of efforts to combat international opioid trafficking.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced on Wednesday that Sadiq Abbas Habib Sayyed and Khizar Mohammad Iqbal Shaikh, along with their business KS International Traders, also operating as “KS Pharmacy,” have been sanctioned. Authorities claim the individuals used the online store to sell pills to U.S. customers under the guise of legitimate, discounted pharmaceuticals, which were in reality counterfeit and highly addictive.
“Fentanyl has destroyed too many families. Today’s action ensures those profiting from this dangerous substance are held responsible,” stated John K. Hurley, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.
The sanctions fall under Executive Order 14059, designed to combat the international spread of illicit drugs. Consequently, any assets held by the sanctioned individuals or entity in the United States are frozen, and U.S. citizens and businesses are prohibited from conducting transactions with them.
U.S. officials noted that the two men were already indicted in 2024 by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of New York for narcotics offenses. Despite these charges, KS Pharmacy allegedly continued operating through encrypted messaging services, cryptocurrency payments, and false claims of authenticity to conceal illegal drug sales. The operation is reported to have collaborated with traffickers both in the Dominican Republic and within the United States.
Treasury officials emphasized that the sanctions are part of broader initiatives to disrupt the flow of synthetic opioids, especially fentanyl, which has been linked to record overdose deaths in the U.S. By cutting off access to financial channels and U.S. markets, authorities aim to discourage other cross-border trafficking operations.
The development is expected to increase pressure on India, a key center for pharmaceutical manufacturing, to enhance regulatory oversight and assist in investigations into the misuse of drug supply chains.
