In a significant move against the opioid crisis, U.S. authorities have imposed sanctions on two Indian nationals, Sadiq Abbas Habib Sayyed and Khizar Mohammad Iqbal Shaikh, for their alleged roles in a counterfeit drug network. This network is accused of supplying dangerous fentanyl-laced prescription pills to unsuspecting victims throughout the United States. An online pharmacy based in India, identified as KS International Traders (also known as KS Pharmacy) and owned by Khizar Mohammad Iqbal Shaikh, has also been blacklisted by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
According to U.S. officials, Sayyed and Shaikh, both based in India, collaborated with traffickers in the Dominican Republic and within the United States. Together, they allegedly distributed hundreds of thousands of fake pills. These pills were deceptively marketed as legitimate pharmaceuticals but contained lethal substances such as fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, and methamphetamine.
Khizar Mohammad Iqbal Shaikh reportedly continued to operate KS Pharmacy even after being indicted on narcotics-related charges by a federal grand jury in New York in September 2024.
Impact of the Sanctions:
The U.S. Treasury sanctions mean that any assets belonging to Sayyed and Shaikh within the United States, or assets controlled by American companies and banks, are now frozen. Furthermore, U.S. individuals and companies are strictly prohibited from engaging in any business dealings with them, including financial transactions or providing services.
These sanctions extend beyond U.S. borders, as foreign businesses and individuals who knowingly assist Sayyed or Shaikh in circumventing these restrictions could face penalties.
Fentanyl’s Devastating Impact:
Fentanyl is identified as the primary driver of the synthetic opioid crisis in the United States, responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths. Opioid overdoses remain the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45. Both the U.S. and India are cooperating under the U.S.-India Drug Policy Framework to combat the global drug threat.
U.S. Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, John K. Hurley, stated, “Too many families have been torn apart by fentanyl. Today, we are acting to hold accountable those who profit from this poison,” reaffirming Washington’s commitment to a campaign to “Make America Fentanyl Free.”