The US Embassy in India on Thursday revealed that it has revoked and denied visas to certain Indian business executives, corporate heads and their families over their alleged involvement in drug trafficking. The embassy said these individuals will be on their watchlist and face "heightened scrutiny" when they apply for US visas.
In a statement, the US Embassy in India said, "In furtherance to the Trump Administration’s efforts to keep Americans safe from dangerous synthetic narcotics, the US Embassy in New Delhi has revoked and subsequently denied visas for certain business executives and corporate leadership based on involvement in trafficking fentanyl precursors."
"These individuals and close family members may be ineligible for travel to the United States. The Embassy is further flagging executives connected with companies known to have trafficked fentanyl precursors for heightened scrutiny if and when they apply for US visas," it added.
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Chargé d’affaires of the US Embassy in New Delhi, Jorgan Andrews, said that individuals involved in drug trafficking, and their families, will face consequences for their actions, and they will be denied access to the US.
"Stopping the flow of fentanyl, including its precursors, to the United States is one of our top priorities. We are grateful to our counterparts in the Government of India for their close cooperation to combat this shared challenge. Only by working together will our two governments address this transnational threat and keep both our people safe from illicit drugs," Andrews said in a statement.
Ever since his re-election, US President Donald Trump has vowed stern measures to combat and stop the flow of drugs into the United States. In February, the US president announced a 25 per cent additional tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, and a 10 per cent additional tariff on imports from China to curb drug trafficking. According to the White House, 75,000 deaths per year are attributed to fentanyl alone.