The United States has announced visa restrictions on 13 individuals linked to an India-based online pharmacy accused of selling counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid linked to rising overdose deaths.
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According to the US State Department, the action targets associates of KS International Traders, a Mumbai-based online pharmacy alleged to have generated revenue through the trafficking of fentanyl-laced medicines.
Officials said the sanctioned individuals are close associates of the company and its owner, though no names of senior executives were immediately released. The company’s website, as listed in US government records, was reportedly inaccessible at the time of the announcement.
US imposes visa curbs on 13 linked to entity ‘smuggling’ fentanyl into America @ujwaljalali reports https://t.co/i7tDiXSL01
— The Tribune (@thetribunechd) May 13, 2026
US authorities said the firm was involved in distributing hundreds of thousands of fake prescription pills containing illicit fentanyl to customers in the United States, contributing to widespread harm in affected communities.
Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic opioid used medically for pain relief but is strictly controlled due to its extreme potency and high risk of overdose. It has been a central factor in a major public health crisis in the United States.
A spokesperson for the US State Department said those involved in the illicit trade would be denied entry into the country, adding that Washington remains committed to stopping the flow of fentanyl and related substances.
The Biden administration, and now the Trump administration’s policy framework, has increasingly focused on international cooperation and sanctions tools to combat synthetic drug trafficking networks.
This is not the first enforcement action against KS International Traders. The company and two Indian nationals were previously sanctioned over similar allegations involving counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills.
US officials said the latest visa restrictions are part of a broader strategy to disrupt global supply chains linked to synthetic opioids and protect American communities from drug-related harm.
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India’s foreign and health ministries have not yet issued a formal response to the latest US decision. Authorities in Washington said further action may follow as investigations into international trafficking networks continue.