The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Monday that two Indian chemical companies have been indicted for allegedly importing ingredients for the highly addictive opioid fentanyl into the United States and Mexico.
In Brooklyn, two chemical companies, Athos Chemicals and Raxuter Chemicals, have been charged with distributing and conspiring to distribute the ingredients. Both companies, which operate in Gujarat, are now facing legal consequences.
Raxuter and senior executive Bhavesh Lathiya, who is 36 years old, have also been accused of smuggling and introducing misbranded drugs into interstate commerce.
Lathiya was taken into custody on Saturday in New York and was later ordered to remain detained until his trial. Prosecutors argued that he posed a flight risk and posed a significant threat to the community.
“The Justice Department is actively pursuing all individuals and entities involved in fentanyl trafficking supply chains that stretch across nations and continents, resulting in devastating consequences within the United States,” stated U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, emphasizing the importance of tackling this issue.
The federal public defender representing Lathiya declined to comment, while Athos and Raxuter did not respond to similar requests outside of business hours.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is known to be approximately 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine.
Opioids were responsible for approximately
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of cases in 2022 was ten times higher than in 1999.
The prosecutors have stated that the defendants have been supplying “precursor” chemicals since February 2024. They were aware that these chemicals would be used to produce fentanyl. To conceal their actions, they resorted to mislabeling packages, falsifying customs forms, and making false declarations at border crossings.
Lathiya took this step upon receiving feedback from the agent that his Mexico clients were highly satisfied with the quality of the product he had provided. The agent also mentioned the successful yield of fentanyl resulting from Lathiya’s work.
In February of last year, Athos was charged with agreeing to sell 100 kilograms of the same chemical to a known drug trafficker in Mexico. This individual was involved in the production of fentanyl as part of a drug trafficking organization.
According to the Justice Department, Lathiya could potentially face a maximum prison sentence of 53 years if found guilty.