New York, May 13: The United States has imposed a visa ban on 13 individuals associated with an Indian business, citing a shared commitment with India to combat drug trafficking. This business has previously been linked to the trafficking of the dangerous drug fentanyl. The information was disclosed by U.S. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott on Tuesday.
Pigott stated that these individuals are “close business associates of KS International Traders and its owner.” The company was reportedly profiting from the illegal trafficking of fentanyl, which former President Trump has classified as a weapon of mass destruction.
“This action reflects the shared and ongoing commitment of the U.S. and India to dismantle illegal drug networks and disrupt trafficking operations that harm people,” Pigott added. However, he did not disclose the names of the individuals affected by the visa ban.
The ban has been implemented under the Immigration and Nationality Act, which prevents drug traffickers from entering the United States. In September, KS International Traders, along with its owner Khizar Mohammad Iqbal Sheikh and Sadik Abbas Habib Syed, both Indian nationals, were sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department.
These sanctions resulted in the freezing of their assets and a prohibition on any financial transactions within the U.S. The Treasury Department alleged that these individuals were selling hundreds of thousands of counterfeit medications, including fentanyl and other narcotics, to people in the United States.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
