National Intelligence accuses India of allowing fentanyl supply

Authorities pointed to India, along with China, for being complicit with drug traffickers who manufacture and smuggle fentanyl into the United States. Due to overdoses from the consumption of this drug, in the last fiscal period ending October 2024, more than 52,000 Americans died.

A report published by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) revealed that India is the second leading country of origin of the illegal chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl and the machinery used to make the pills.

"Nonstate groups are often enabled, both directly and indirectly, by state actors, such as China and India as sources of precursors and equipment for drug traffickers," Tulsi Gabbard's office said in a report.

"China remains the primary source country for illicit fentanyl precursor chemicals and pill pressing

equipment, followed by India," it added.

Previously, the DNI simply listed India as one of many countries that Mexican drug trafficking criminal groups turned to for the chemicals needed to produce fentanyl. Now, the world's most populous country is in second place, behind only China.

Indian companies accused of manufacturing precursor chemicals for fentanyl

In recent months, different companies with origins in India were accused of manufacturing, distributing and importing chemical elements used to make fentanyl.

On Jan. 6, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed an indictment formally charging the companies Raxuter Chemicals and Athos Chemicals Pvt. Ltd. of "criminal conspiracies to distribute and import fentanyl precursor chemicals" to the U.S. The former's founder and senior executive, Bhavesh Lathiya, was arrested two days earlier in New York.

"We allege these companies, and a company founder and senior executive who is now in custody, conspired to distribute and import fentanyl precursor chemicals from India to the United States and Mexico," said Merrick B. Garland, who was then serving as attorney general.

In early March, another India-based company, Vasudha Pharma Chem Limited (VPC), and three senior executives were indicted by the DOJ on multiple charges related to the manufacture and distribution of a fentanyl precursor chemical for illegal import into the United States.

Tariffs on China for being an importer of chemicals to make fentanyl

China has been targeted by the U.S. government for its role in the production of fentanyl. Donald Trump announced tariffs of 10% on all products of Chinese origin after claiming that the country is an exporter of chemical elements required by international drug traffickers to manufacture this synthetic opioid.

The president said China will have to pay an additional 10% tariff because a large percentage of drugs, "many of them in the form of fentanyl, are manufactured and supplied" in that country.