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Washington says action supports President Trump’s pledge to “Make America Fentanyl Free”.
A woman uses fentanyl on Park Avenue following in downtown Portland, Oregon. US Treasury sanctions two Indians and an online pharmacy accused of pushing fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills to Americans. (IMAGE: AFP/REPRESENTATIVE)
The United States on Thursday announced sanctions against two Indian nationals and an India-based online pharmacy for supplying counterfeit prescription pills laced with fentanyl and other illicit drugs to Americans.
The US Treasury Department’s sanctions arm alleged that Sadiq Abbas Habib Sayyed and Khizar Mohammad Iqbal Shaikh worked with traffickers in the US and Dominican Republic to push pills marketed as legitimate medicines, which were instead filled with fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, and methamphetamine. Both allegedly used encrypted platforms to run their operations and reach customers.
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Shaikh, who owns KS International Traders (also known as KS Pharmacy), was accused of using the company to further his criminal activities. Despite being indicted on narcotics-related charges by a New York federal grand jury in September 2024, US officials said Shaikh has continued to operate the online pharmacy.
“Sayyed and Shaikh are being sanctioned today pursuant to E.O. 14059 for having engaged in, or attempted to engage in, activities or transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs or their means of production. KS International Traders is being sanctioned today pursuant to E.O. 14059 for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Shaikh,” the press release by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said.
The US Treasury said Sayyed and Shaikh are being sanctioned under an executive order for activities that “materially contributed to, or pose a significant risk of materially contributing to, the international proliferation of illicit drugs.” KS International Traders was sanctioned for being owned or directed by Shaikh.
“Too many families have been torn apart by fentanyl. Today, we are acting to hold accountable those who profit from this poison,” said John K. Hurley, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. He added that the action reflects Washington’s commitment to President Donald Trump’s pledge to “Make America Fentanyl Free.”
About the Author
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev…Read More
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev… Read More
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
September 25, 2025, 12:28 IST
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