US revokes visas for Indian executives over fentanyl allegations

Washington, DC – According to the US Embassy in India, the administration of US President Donald Trump has suspended and denied visa applications for some Indian business executives over alleged fentanyl component trade.

The Embassy’s announcement on Thursday regarding the revocation of visas did not identify the individuals targeted or provide information about the nature of their business.

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The US Embassy in New Delhi revoked and subsequently denied visas for some business executives and corporate leaders because of their involvement in the trafficking of fentanyl precursors, according to the Trump Administration.

tranquilizers and other substances used in the production of the dangerous drug are included in the fentanyl precursors.

Washington and New Delhi are at heightened frictions over trade and the importation of Russian oil, according to the announcement.

Trump’s decision to impose tariffs of 50% on Indian imports was rejected by New Delhi, which demonstrated that Washington’s European allies have continued to purchase Russian energy products.

Washington and New Delhi held discussions this week, which increased the likelihood of a deal.

Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were in India on Tuesday when US trade officials shook hands.

Trump remarked in a social media post that “we just had a wonderful phone call with my friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

“I wished him a very Happy Birthday!” He is a fantastic worker. Thank you, Narendra, for your assistance in putting an end to the Russian-Ukraine War.

The Trump administration later announced to the US Congress that India was one of the 23 “major drug transit or major illicit drug producing countries” in a statement.

The US Embassy’s statement on Thursday about the revoking and disqualifying visas for Indian business leaders suggested that the two nations are collaborating to combat the drug trade.

Our Indian counterparts in the government of India have been very helpful in tackling this common issue, the statement read.

Our two governments can address this transnational threat and protect both of our citizens from illicit drugs only by co-operating.

In the US over the past few years, hundreds of thousands of people have died from overdoses of the synthetic opioid fentanyl.

According to government estimates, there were 391 overdose deaths in the US last year, more than half of which occurred from fentanyl. In 2023, fentanyl alone killed 76, 282 people.

Trump has been waging a ‘war on drugs’ against the government.