US embassy denies visas to Indian business executives linked to fentanyl precursors

On September 18, 2025, the US embassy in New Delhi announced that it had revoked and denied visas for certain Indian business executives and corporate leaders due to their alleged involvement in trafficking fentanyl precursors.

Fentanyl precursors are the basic chemical compounds used to manufacture fentanyl, a substance responsible for a significant number of overdose deaths in the United States.

The embassy statement did not identify the individuals affected, but a spokesperson confirmed that all were Indian nationals.

The US embassy also noted that Indian government officials have been cooperating closely with US authorities to address the challenges of drug trafficking.

President Donald Trump, who previously imposed punitive 50% tariffs on Indian imports — straining bilateral ties — has also levied additional tariffs on goods from China, Mexico, and Canada, citing their role in facilitating fentanyl flows into the United States.

In a statement to Congress earlier this week, Trump listed India among 23 major drug transit or illicit drug-producing countries, while clarifying that inclusion on the list does not necessarily reflect the Indian government’s efforts in combating narcotics.

By Tamilla Hasanova