Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Feb 5: US drug enforcement authorities have dismantled a vast network of illegal online pharmacies tied to an India-based criminal syndicate accused of fueling deadly drug overdoses across the country.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said on Wednesday that more than 200 illicit pharmacy websites were taken offline as part of a nationwide crackdown on a transnational operation linked to at least six fatal and four non-fatal overdoses in the United States. The network has been under federal investigation since 2022.
Beginning January 27, coordinated enforcement actions were launched by DEA field offices across multiple states, leading to the arrest of four individuals, according to an official statement.
In addition to the arrests, authorities issued five Immediate Suspension Orders and one Order to Show Cause against DEA-registered entities. These administrative actions are aimed at preventing imminent threats to public health and safety.
Federal officials said the shuttered websites had filled hundreds of thousands of orders for counterfeit pills and diverted pharmaceutical drugs, all sold illegally without valid prescriptions.
Under US law, controlled substances can only be dispensed with a legitimate prescription issued by a licensed medical practitioner for a valid medical purpose. Investigators allege the operators of these websites blatantly ignored those requirements, shipping controlled drugs to customers nationwide in violation of the Controlled Substances Act.
During the probe, agents identified thousands of buyers who had purchased drugs through the illegal platforms. To further the investigation, the DEA has sent more than 20,000 letters to members of the public seeking information related to the case.
“This case shows how foreign-based traffickers exploit our healthcare system, operate behind the anonymity of the internet, and rely on individuals inside the United States to distribute dangerous drugs under the cover of legitimate business,” DEA Administrator Terrance Cole said.
“Illegal online pharmacies poison American communities,” he added. “They sell counterfeit and unapproved medications and show no concern for the harm or loss of life they cause.”
The DEA said it is working closely with Indian law enforcement agencies to identify and dismantle criminal networks involved in illegal pharmaceutical trafficking. Joint operations will continue, with a focus on disrupting supply chains at their source.
According to investigators, the operators often collaborated with drug traffickers to fulfill online orders using counterfeit pills or diverted medicines, many of which contained fentanyl or methamphetamine. Authorities warned that consuming such substances can lead to severe health complications, ineffective treatment, and death.