US Bans Visas for 13 Indian Fentanyl Traffickers

The United States Department of State imposed visa restrictions on 13 individuals associated with KS International Traders, a Mumbai-based online pharmacy accused of trafficking illicit fentanyl to the United States. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott announced the action on May 13, 2026, citing Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The restrictions target close business associates of the pharmacy's owner, Khizar Mohammad Iqbal Shaikh.

KS International Traders, also known as KS Pharmacy, allegedly sold hundreds of thousands of counterfeit prescription pills laced with fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, and methamphetamine. The operation involved collaboration with traffickers in the United States and the Dominican Republic. These visa bans follow September 2025 sanctions imposed by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control against the firm, Shaikh, and associate Sadiq Abbas Habib Sayyed.

This crackdown aligns with a broader policy by the administration of Donald Trump, who designated illicit fentanyl and its precursor chemicals as a weapon of mass destruction under Executive Order 14367. Pigott stated the measures reflect a shared commitment between the U.S. and India to disrupt drug trafficking networks. India's foreign and health ministries have not yet responded to requests for comment.