US slaps visa curbs on India-based pharmacy owner, 13 others over fentanyl trafficking

The US Department of State announced a major escalation in its fight against synthetic opioids on Tuesday, imposing visa restrictions on the proprietor of an Indian online pharmacy and 13 of his close business associates.

The action targets the leadership of KS International Traders (also known as KS Pharmacy), a Mumbai-based entity that federal authorities say has evolved from a rogue pharmacy into a transnational criminal threat.

A 'weapon of mass destruction'

In a press statement, State Department Spokesperson Thomas "Tommy" Pigott highlighted that the illicit fentanyl trafficked by this network has been designated as a Weapon of Mass Destruction under President Trump’s Executive Order 14367.

"Illicit fentanyl is killing too many Americans," Pigott stated. "Those complicit in poisoning our citizens will be denied entry to the United States. We are using every tool at our disposal—financial, legal, and now consular—to dismantle these networks."

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The 'KS Pharmacy' modus operandi

According to the State Department, KS International Traders marketed what appeared to be legitimate, discounted prescription medications such as Oxycodone and Adderall. In reality, these products were counterfeit pills laced with lethal amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine.

The network allegedly used encrypted messaging platforms to coordinate with narcotics traffickers in Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

The visa bans, issued under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, apply to the pharmacy’s owner and 13 associates who facilitated the generation of revenue through drug trafficking.

This move follows the 2025 Treasury Department (OFAC) designations of the network's key figures, Sadiq Abbas Habib Sayyed and Khizar Mohammad Iqbal Shaikh.

Strategic pressure on global supply chains

The decision to use visa curbs shows a pivot in US strategy, moving beyond just freezing assets to stripping traffickers of their global mobility.

US officials also praised ongoing coordination with Indian law enforcement, who recently dismantled a related precursor chemical ring in Gujarat. The State Department said that this action reflects on the "enduring and shared commitment" between the US and India to safeguard global supply chains from criminal exploitation.