Vasudha Pharma Chem, execs charged in US for illegal fentanyl precursor imports
Washington: Hyderabad-based chemical manufacturing firm and three of its high-level employees have been charged in federal court in Washington, DC for alleged illegal import of precursor chemicals for the production of illicit fentanyl.
Two high-ranking Vasudha Pharma Chem Limited (VPC) employees have also been arrested in New York City as part of the operation.
Fentanyl is a potent opioid drug blamed for widespread drug addiction in the United States.
The Trump administration has initiated a crackdown on illegal import of fentanyl and also linked it with tariffs adjustments in case of some nations.
In a statement on Thursday, the US department of justice said that VPC; the company's chief global business officer Tanweer Ahmed Mohamed Hussain Parkar, 63, of India and the United Kingdom; VPC marketing director Venkata Naga Madhusudhan Raju Manthena, 48, of India; and VPC marketing representative Krishna Vericharla, 40, of India were charged with multiple counts of manufacturing and distributing a fentanyl precursor chemical for unlawful importation into the United States, and attempting and conspiring to do the same.
Parkar and Manthena were arrested in New York City on Thursday, PTI reported.
The four-count indictment charges all defendants with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute a listed chemical for unlawful importation into the US and for the manufacture and distribution of a controlled substance for unlawful importation into the US; and manufacture and distribution of a listed chemical for unlawful importation into the US.
The other two are attempted manufacture and distribution of a listed chemical for unlawful importation into the US; and for the manufacture and distribution of a controlled substance for unlawful importation into the US.
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