FICCI caution members as US indict firms dealing in fentanyl precursors

fentanyl

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) has advised Indian companies to exercise caution and ensure strict compliance with national and international regulations governing the manufacture, distribution, packaging, and export of controlled substances. The Indian trade body advisory to its members follows US government's indictment of three Indian chemical companies and individuals for allegedly conspiring to manufacture and distribute fentanyl precursors.

"All Indian companies are hereby advised to exercise caution and strictly adhere to national and international laws on manufacture, distribution, packaging and export of Controlled Substances and Listed Chemicals," said FICCI in its advisory to Indian firms.

The indictments, issued under Title 18 and Title 21 of the U.S. Code, allege that the accused knowingly manufactured and distributed controlled chemicals with the intent that they would be unlawfully imported into the US.

US prosecutors claim the entities engaged in mislabelling shipments, falsifying customs forms, and making false declarations at border crossings.

US authorities say the chemicals in question include 4-piperidone and its derivatives, which are classified as List-I controlled substances. The U.S. Department of Justice alleges that the companies facilitated the transportation, concealment, and sale of these substances within the US, in violation of federal law.

Precursors are chemicals used to make fentanyl. The US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has been alleging that certain chemical companies in India are global producers and distributors of fentanyl precursor chemicals.

These companies supply fentanyl precursor chemicals to the US and Mexico, among other places, where the chemicals are used to produce fentanyl or other controlled substances.

The US government has indicted firms and individuals based in Gujarat and Telangana including Raxuter Chemicals and Bhavesh Ranchhodbhai Lathiy; Athos Chemicals and

It alleged Raxuter Chemicals for advertising and selling l-boc-4-piperidone, a key fentanyl fentanyl precursor through e-commerce platform in India

A federal court in Washington, D.C., charged three high-level employees of Vasudha Pharma Chem Limited related to illegally importing precursor chemicals used to make illicit fentanyl.

US President Donald Trump has declared war on fentanyl, a decades-old synthetic opioid responsible for numerous overdose deaths and ripping apart American society. His administration has implemented several measures to combat the fentanyl crisis in the US, including designating international drug cartels as terrorist organisations, imposing tariffs on countries like China and Mexico, and enhancing border controls. These actions aim to disrupt the production and trafficking of fentanyl.​

The DEA noted that India with its vast pharmaceutical and chemical industries is an emerging source for fentanyl precursor chemicals. Mexican cartels such as Sinaloa cartel purchase the precursors to make fentanyl, which is shipped primarily to the US.