The US Department of the Treasury on Wednesday sanctioned two Indian nationals and one India-based online pharmacy for supplying hundreds of thousands of counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl and other illicit drugs to victims across the United States.
The move, announced by the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), named Sadiq Abbas Habib Sayyed and Khizar Mohammad Iqbal Shaikh, who allegedly worked with narcotics traffickers in the US and the Dominican Republic to sell counterfeit pills marketed as legitimate pharmaceutical products.
‘Targeting those who profit from this poison’
“Too many families have been torn apart by fentanyl. Today, we are acting to hold accountable those who profit from this poison,” said John K. Hurley, Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. “Treasury will continue to advance US President Trump’s commitment to Make America Fentanyl Free by targeting drug traffickers.”
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Fentanyl has been the primary driver of the synthetic opioid crisis in the United States, which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Opioid overdose remains the leading cause of death among Americans aged 18 to 45.
Online pharmacies’ role in the fentanyl crisis
The role of illegal online pharmacies in supplying counterfeit pills to US consumers has been underscored by OFAC. These pills, according to the department, in most cases bear the likeness of brand-name and generic medications. Since they believe that they are dealing with legally registered pharmacies, buyers are in the end exposed to perilous synthetics such as fentanyl and methamphetamine.
In October 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a warning about the rise of illegal online pharmacies selling counterfeit pills made with fentanyl and methamphetamine to unsuspecting Americans.
Sanctions target Indian traffickers
According to US Department of Treasury, Sayyed and Shaikh marketed and sold counterfeit pills as discounted, legitimate pharmaceuticals, using encrypted messaging platforms to communicate with buyers. Shaikh also owns KS International Traders, sometimes referred to as KS Pharmacy-the online counterpart, which he is allegedly having used to promote his illegal operations.
Both men were indicted in September 2024 by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of New York on narcotics-related charges. Despite the indictment, Shaikh continued to operate KS International Traders.
The sanctions were imposed under Executive Order 14059, which targets the international proliferation of illicit drugs. The action was coordinated with the Department of Justice, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigations, and the US Postal Inspection Service.
