The United States has revoked and denied visas to a group of Indian business executives and corporate leaders accused of involvement in trafficking fentanyl precursors, a move Washington says is part of its intensified crackdown on synthetic narcotics.
In a statement on Thursday, the US embassy in New Delhi confirmed the action, saying the restrictions extend to close family members of the executives, who &ldquo;may be ineligible for travel to the United States&rdquo; under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
&ldquo;This step furthers the Trump administration&rsquo;s efforts to keep Americans safe from dangerous synthetic narcotics,&rdquo; the embassy said, without naming the individuals or companies involved. It added that executives linked to firms suspected of trafficking fentanyl precursors would be subject to &ldquo;heightened scrutiny&rdquo; in future visa applications.
Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;affaires Jorgan Andrews underscored Washington&rsquo;s stance: &ldquo;The US embassy in New Delhi remains steadfast in its commitment to combating illicit drug trafficking. 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.&rdquo;
The announcement comes months after the US Department of Justice charged two India-based companies Raxuter Chemicals and Athos Chemicals&nbsp;and Bhavesh Lathiya, a co-founder and senior executive of Raxuter, with conspiring to distribute and import fentanyl precursors into the US and Mexico.
Lathiya was arrested in New York on January 4 and arraigned in the Eastern District of New York. Prosecutors alleged the companies shipped chemicals using international mail and private carriers while employing fraudulent practices such as mislabelling, falsifying customs forms, and making false declarations to evade detection at borders.
Then US Attorney General Merrick Garland had described the case as part of a broader conspiracy to exploit global supply chains for fentanyl production.
Washington has repeatedly described the flow of fentanyl and its precursors as one of its top security priorities, citing the drug&rsquo;s role in the US opioid crisis. Officials stressed that India remains a critical partner in addressing the transnational challenge.
&ldquo;The two governments can only combat this threat by working together,&rdquo; the embassy noted, thanking New Delhi for its &ldquo;close cooperation.&rdquo;
This is the second time in 2025 that the US has imposed visa restrictions on Indian nationals. In May, the State Department targeted owners and officials of Indian travel agencies accused of &ldquo;knowingly&rdquo; facilitating illegal immigration. That move came after Washington deported more than 300 Indians on military flights, an unprecedented operation and sent dozens of others to Panama.
For now, India&rsquo;s Ministry of External Affairs has said it will &ldquo;study the implications&rdquo; of the latest visa restrictions, but has not issued a detailed response.

Executives, families flagged for fentanyl precursor trafficking links

US Revokes Visas of Indian Executives

Executives, families flagged for fentanyl precursor trafficking links

September 18, 2025 | 18:17 IST