The US Division of the Treasury on Wednesday sanctioned two Indian nationals and one India-based on-line pharmacy for supplying a whole bunch of hundreds of counterfeit prescription capsules containing fentanyl and different illicit medicine to victims throughout the US.
The transfer, introduced by the Treasury’s Workplace of International Property Management (OFAC), named Sadiq Abbas Habib Sayyed and Khizar Mohammad Iqbal Shaikh, who allegedly labored with narcotics traffickers within the US and the Dominican Republic to promote counterfeit capsules marketed as respectable pharmaceutical merchandise.
‘Concentrating on those that revenue from this poison’
“Too many households have been torn aside by fentanyl. Right this moment, we’re appearing to carry accountable those that revenue from this poison,” mentioned John Ok. Hurley, Treasury Beneath Secretary for Terrorism and Monetary Intelligence. “Treasury will proceed to advance US President Trump’s dedication to Make America Fentanyl Free by focusing on drug traffickers.”
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Fentanyl has been the first driver of the artificial opioid disaster in the US, which has claimed a whole bunch of hundreds of lives. Opioid overdose stays the main reason behind dying amongst Individuals aged 18 to 45.
On-line pharmacies’ position within the fentanyl disaster
The position of unlawful on-line pharmacies in supplying counterfeit capsules to US customers has been underscored by OFAC. These capsules, based on the division, normally bear the likeness of brand-name and generic medicines. Since they imagine that they’re coping with legally registered pharmacies, consumers are ultimately uncovered to perilous synthetics comparable to fentanyl and methamphetamine.
In October 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a warning in regards to the rise of unlawful on-line pharmacies promoting counterfeit capsules made with fentanyl and methamphetamine to unsuspecting Individuals.
Sanctions goal Indian traffickers
In response to US Division of Treasury, Sayyed and Shaikh marketed and bought counterfeit capsules as discounted, respectable prescribed drugs, utilizing encrypted messaging platforms to speak with consumers. Shaikh additionally owns KS Worldwide Merchants, typically known as KS Pharmacy-the on-line counterpart, which he’s allegedly having used to advertise his unlawful operations.
Each males have been indicted in September 2024 by a federal grand jury within the Southern District of New York on narcotics-related prices. Regardless of the indictment, Shaikh continued to function KS Worldwide Merchants.
The sanctions have been imposed beneath Government Order 14059, which targets the worldwide proliferation of illicit medicine. The motion was coordinated with the Division of Justice, DEA, Homeland Safety Investigations, IRS Legal Investigations, and the US Postal Inspection Service.
