US names India, China as ‘primary sources’ of illicit fentanyl trafficking
New Delhi: The United States has reportedly identified India and China as key players in the illicit fentanyl trade, naming them as "state actors" who contribute to the direct and indirect supply of precursor chemicals and equipment used by drug traffickers.
“A diverse set of foreign actors are targeting US health and safety, critical infrastructure, industries, wealth, and government,” Washington said in its 2025 Annual Threat Assessment report released by the office of the Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, reported Scroll on Thursday.
According to the report, fentanyl and other synthetic opioids were responsible for over 52,000 deaths in the U.S. between November 2023 and October 2024. It added that certain transnational criminal organisations were producing and trafficking large amounts of illicit drugs that were endangering the lives and livelihoods of U.S. citizens.
The report highlighted that transnational criminal organisations (TCOs), such as the Sinaloa Cartel and the New Generation Jalisco Cartel, based in Mexico, remain the primary producers and suppliers of illicit drugs like fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine to the U.S. market. However, non-state groups are said to be supported by "state actors like China and India as sources of precursors and equipment for drug traffickers”.
“China remains the primary source country for illicit fentanyl precursor chemicals and pill pressing equipment, followed by India,” alleged the report.
The report follows a recent federal case in Washington DC, where an India-based chemical manufacturing company and three of its employees were charged with illegally importing fentanyl precursors. Additionally, two top-ranking employees of a Hyderabad-based company were arrested in New York City last week in connection with the case.
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'Did anyone die?' asks Lamborghini driver after hitting two pedestrians in Noida, arrested
Noida (PTI): A Lamborghini hit two pedestrians on a footpath adjacent to an under-construction building in sector 94 here on Sunday, police said.
The injured, labourers from Chhattisgarh, were rushed to a nearby hospital and are said to be out of danger. They have suffered a fracture in their legs, police said.
A purported video surfaced online showing that after the accident, a man was heard asking the accused if he knew how many people died here. To this, the accused asked the locals "koi mar gaya idhar? (did anyone die here?)" and came out of the car.
Following this, someone in the video could be heard saying, "police ko bulao (call the police)".
Bhupendra Singh, In-charge at Sector 126 Police Station told PTI, "In the car accident two labourers were injured and they were from Chhattisgarh. They are out of danger and have fractures in their legs."
The accident happened adjacent to an under-construction building, he said.
"The car driver has been identified as Deepak, a resident of Ajmer and the car is registered with the Puducherry registration. He has been arrested and the car has been seized," he added.
During questioning he told the police that the accident happened due to a fault in the vehicle. Further investigation is underway, Singh said.
#WATCH | Noida, Uttar Pradesh: Two people were injured after being hit by a Lamborghini car near Sector 94 roundabout in Sector-126 police station area. The car is registered in the name of Mridul and was being driven by Deepak. The driver, Deepak, a resident of Ajmer, has been… pic.twitter.com/sJiFcqdMm7
— ANI (@ANI) March 30, 2025
नोएडा: तेज रफ्तार लैम्बॉर्गिनी कार ने एमिटी यूनिवर्सिटी के पास M3M प्रोजेक्ट साइट के बाहर फुटपाथ पर बैठे मजदूरों को कुचला। pic.twitter.com/yDF4OhFs2B
— Greater Noida West (@GreaterNoidaW) March 30, 2025
