The United States Treasury Department has sanctioned two Indian nationals for their involvement in supplying counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl and other dangerous drugs to American consumers. On September 24, 2025, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) identified Sadiq Abbas Habib Sayyed and Khizar Mohammad Iqbal Shaikh as key figures in this international drug trafficking network. An online pharmacy linked to Shaikh, KS International Traders, was also sanctioned.

Sayyed, 39, and Shaikh, 34, are accused of distributing hundreds of thousands of fake pills marketed as legitimate medications. These counterfeit drugs were found to contain fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, and methamphetamine. They reportedly collaborated with traffickers in the Dominican Republic and the U.S., using encrypted messaging platforms to promote their products as discounted pharmaceuticals.

John K. Hurley, U.S. Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, stated, "Too many families have been torn apart by fentanyl. Today, we are acting to hold accountable those who profit from this poison." He emphasized the U.S. commitment to combatting the opioid crisis, which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, particularly among Americans aged 18 to 45.

The sanctions freeze any assets the two men hold in the U.S. and prohibit American individuals and businesses from engaging with them. Violating these sanctions could lead to civil and criminal penalties. Both Sayyed and Shaikh had previously been indicted in September 2024 on narcotics-related charges in New York.

The U.S. Treasury highlighted the significant role of online pharmacies, particularly those based in India, in exacerbating the fentanyl epidemic. These suppliers not only target American consumers but also provide precursor chemicals to Mexican cartels for fentanyl production. This action aligns with the U.S.-India Drug Policy Framework, aimed at enhancing cooperation between the two nations to combat global drug trafficking and improve public health.