NEW DELHI: The US Embassy in New Delhi has revoked the visas of several Indian business executives and corporate leaders, citing their involvement in smuggling fentanyl precursors. The embassy said those individuals have also been denied fresh visas.
Fentanyl precursors are chemicals used in the production of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that has become a leading cause of overdose deaths in the United States.
Although the embassy did not disclose the names of those affected, a spokesperson confirmed that they were Indian nationals. The statement added that Indian government officials are working closely with US counterparts to combat drug trafficking.
US President Donald Trump has previously accused countries such as China, Mexico and Canada of facilitating the supply of fentanyl into the United States, and imposed additional tariffs on their imports. Trump’s punitive 50 per cent tariffs on Indian imports have also strained bilateral relations.
In a recent statement to the US Congress, Trump included India on the list of 23 major drug trafficking or illicit drug producing countries. However, he noted that inclusion on the list does not necessarily reflect the government’s anti-drug enforcement efforts.
