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Trump also addressed the devastating impact of synthetic opioids, notably fentanyl, which he said are driving a serious public health crisis in the US.
The US government continues to treat the trafficking of fentanyl and related substances as a national emergency
In a recent ‘Presidential Determination’ submitted to Congress, US President Donald Trump named India among 23 countries designated as major drug transit or major illicit drug producing nations. Trump asserted that the manufacturing and trafficking of illicit substances continue to pose a significant threat to the safety of the United States and its citizens, reported PTI.
The list of countries identified for their involvement in trafficking illicit drugs and precursor chemicals spans several continents. In Asia, it includes Afghanistan, Burma, China, India, and Pakistan. Other nations named are the Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.
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Out of these 23 nations, five including Afghanistan, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia, and Venezuela were singled out by Trump for having “failed demonstrably” during the previous year to uphold their international counternarcotics commitments or to implement sufficient measures against drug production and trafficking. He specifically criticised Afghanistan for ongoing narcotics activities despite public bans on production and trade.
Trump also addressed the devastating impact of synthetic opioids, notably fentanyl, which he said are driving a serious public health crisis in the US. The President stressed the urgency of tackling these drugs, which remain the leading cause of death among Americans aged 18 to 44. According to the US State Department, “The combination of geographic, commercial, and economic factors that allow drugs or precursor chemicals to be transited or produced, even if a government has engaged in robust and diligent narcotics control and law enforcement measures,” explains why countries may be listed.
This clarification aims to emphasise that a country’s inclusion does not necessarily reflect a lack of cooperation with the US or inadequate counternarcotics efforts by its government.
China, in particular, was identified as the “world’s largest source” of precursor chemicals fuelling the global supply of illicit fentanyl. Trump called attention to China’s central role in the worldwide proliferation of synthetic drugs, including methamphetamine and nitazenes, and urged Chinese authorities to intensify enforcement, disrupt chemical trafficking, and prosecute offenders.
The US government continues to treat the trafficking of fentanyl and related substances as a national emergency, underlining the need for increased international collaboration and sustained vigilance against the expanding narcotics trade.
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
September 17, 2025, 23:57 IST
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