U.S. Cancels Visas for Indian Executives over Fentanyl Precursor Trafficking Accusations: The U.S. Embassy asserts that unnamed corporate leaders from India are implicated in the illicit trade of fentanyl precursors.
The US and India are working together to address the transnational threat of illicit drugs, with a particular focus on the synthetic opioid, fentanyl. This collaboration comes at a time of heightened tensions between the two nations over trade and India's importing of Russian oil.
Over the past years, overdoses on fentanyl have claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the US. In 2023 alone, fentanyl was responsible for the deaths of 76,282 people. In 2021, the US saw 80,391 overdose deaths, more than half of which were attributed to fentanyl.
Fentanyl precursors include tranquilizers and other chemicals used in the manufacturing of the dangerous drug. The US Embassy in New Delhi has revoked and denied visas for certain Indian business executives and corporate leadership based on involvement in trafficking fentanyl precursors. Specific names of these individuals have not been publicly disclosed.
The US Embassy expressed gratitude to the Government of India for their close cooperation in addressing the shared challenge of illicit drugs. US trade officials visited India, and on Tuesday, President Trump held a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This week, Washington and New Delhi held talks at various levels, raising the prospect of a deal.
Throughout his presidency, Trump has been escalating the government's so-called war on drugs. In a recent move, he authorized air strikes against two vessels near Venezuela that he said were transporting drugs into the US.
Meanwhile, Washington's European allies have continued to buy Russian energy products, according to reports. Trump wrote in a social media post that he had a wonderful phone call with Prime Minister Modi. However, tensions remain high over the trade disputes, with Trump imposing 50 percent tariffs on Indian imports, a move that was rejected by New Delhi.
Thursday's statement from the US Embassy on revoking and denying visas to Indian business leaders indicated a cooperative effort between the US and India to combat the drug trade. The US administration issued a declaration to the US Congress, listing India amongst 23 "major drug transit or major illicit drug producing countries".
The US and India's joint efforts to combat the drug trade are a significant step towards addressing the global fentanyl crisis. Both nations remain committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of their citizens and will continue to work together to combat this deadly threat.
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