US Indicts Two Indian Firms In Connection With Illegal Fentanyl Manufacturing

Stop sign saying "Stop Fentanyl" against sky.

The U.S. Department of Justice has indicted two Indian chemical companies for their roles in importing fentanyl manufacturing ingredients into America.

At a Glance

Indian companies Athos and Raxuter Chemicals face serious allegations related to fentanyl chemicals.
Executives are accused of deceptive practices in customs and shipment labels.
The DOJ is intensifying its fight against opioid contribution from international actors.
Fentanyl, notably more lethal than heroin, is a key target of ongoing U.S. efforts.

Indictment of Indian Chemical Companies

Athos Chemicals and Raxuter Chemicals, based in Gujarat, India, have been indicted in a DOJ case for allegedly shipping fentanyl precursor chemicals to the U.S. and Mexico. These indictments reflect a large-scale effort to enforce accountability in the opioids trade, a trade responsible for thousands of fatalities annually. The Justice Department accuses the companies of falsifying shipment labels and manipulating customs forms to conceal their illegal activities.

According to the DOJ, the operation dates back to February 2024, during which the companies supplied chemicals essential for fentanyl manufacturing. Narendra Modi’s government had recently committed to bolstering drug enforcement collaborations with the U.S., underscoring the geopolitical significance of these charges.

Two Indian Chemical Companies and a Senior Executive Indicted for Distributing Fentanyl Precursor Chemicals

🔗: https://t.co/arsgYh1JIk pic.twitter.com/jgendYN6Fn

— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) January 6, 2025

Profile of the Accused: Bhavesh Lathiya

Bhavesh Lathiya, a senior executive of Raxuter Chemicals, was arrested in New York. The DOJ considers him a flight risk and has stated that his actions contributed to substantial community risk. Lathiya has been charged with distributing misbranded drugs and could face up to 53 years in jail if convicted.

“The Justice Department is targeting every link in fentanyl trafficking supply chains that span countries and continents and too often end in tragedy in the United States, We allege these companies, and a company founder and senior executive who is now in custody, conspired to distribute and import fentanyl precursor chemicals from India to the United States and Mexico. We made a promise that the Justice Department would never forget the victims of the fentanyl epidemic, and that we would never stop working to hold accountable those who bear responsibility for it — that is what we have done, and that is what we will continue to do.” said Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Lathiya previously worked as a director at Athos Chemicals before founding Raxuter. His activities during this period are under scrutiny as the case unfolds. The DOJ continues its examination of how these chemicals were transferred and labeled, particularly focusing on claims that packages were falsely identified as containing innocuous materials like Vitamin C and antacids.

Two Indian chemical companies have been indicted for allegedly importing ingredients for the highly addictive opioid fentanyl into the United States and Mexico, the U.S. Department of Justice said on Monday.

— CGTN America (@cgtnamerica) January 6, 2025

The Broader Fight Against the Opioid Crisis

The DOJ’s actions fall under a wider attempt to stifle fentanyl’s reach, a powerful synthetic opioid, notorious for its potency beyond that of heroin and morphine. Efforts to curb the fentanyl crisis target not only direct traffickers but also those aiding the dangerous supply chain through precursor chemical distribution.

“Much of our nation’s illicit fentanyl crisis can be traced to bad actors overseas who knowingly and illegally traffic precursor chemicals to North America, where cartels refine them into deadly narcotics and wreak immeasurable heartbreak and destruction on so many American communities. The Department of Homeland Security, alongside our federal partners, will continue to take the fight against fentanyl directly to alleged foreign precursor chemical exporters like the companies and the individual indicted today—because the best way to stop illicit fentanyl from killing Americans and devastating communities is by preventing it from being manufactured in the first place.” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas.

This case’s investigation involved the HSI New York, Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s New York Field Office. The implications for international chemical companies are significant, as increased scrutiny from American enforcement agencies could alter global chemical supply practices. Ultimately, the focus remains on preventing loss of life and mitigating the opioid crisis in U.S. communities.