200 Fake Pharmacy Websites Axed as DEA Targets India-Linked Fentanyl Drug Ring
New Delhi: The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has dismantled more than 200 website domains associated with an India-linked transnational criminal network accused of distributing fentanyl-laced counterfeit medicines in the United States. The enforcement action was carried out under an initiative named Operation Meltdown.
According to authorities, the illegal online pharmacy network has been linked to at least six fatal overdose cases and four non-fatal overdose incidents in the US. Investigations revealed that the websites processed hundreds of thousands of orders involving diverted pharmaceutical products and counterfeit prescription drugs. The platforms allegedly supplied medications without requiring valid medical prescriptions, violating regulatory safeguards designed to ensure patient safety.
Officials stated that customers using these websites often believed they were purchasing genuine prescription medicines from authorised pharmacies. However, several of the tablets sold through the platforms reportedly contained fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid widely associated with overdose deaths and severe health complications when misused or unknowingly consumed.
DEA Administrator Terrance Cole highlighted that international drug trafficking groups are increasingly exploiting digital platforms and healthcare supply chains to distribute counterfeit and dangerous pharmaceutical products. He warned that illegal online pharmacies frequently mimic legitimate healthcare providers, making it difficult for consumers to identify fraudulent operations.
The DEA’s Rocky Mountain Field Division has been investigating the criminal network since 2022. Beginning 27 January, multiple enforcement actions were conducted across the United States, leading to the arrest of four individuals connected to the operation. Authorities also issued five Immediate Suspension Orders and one Order to Show Cause against entities suspected of being part of the illegal distribution network.
Under US regulatory requirements, controlled medications can only be dispensed by pharmacies when supported by valid prescriptions issued for legitimate medical purposes. Investigators found that the targeted websites bypassed these legal requirements and used professionally designed interfaces and US-based web addresses to gain consumer trust.
Officials further revealed that counterfeit pills circulating through the network were frequently manufactured using fentanyl or methamphetamine. Health authorities cautioned that consumption of such falsified medicines can lead to serious adverse health outcomes, treatment failure, and death.
The DEA has stated that it is coordinating with Indian law enforcement agencies to trace and dismantle the criminal infrastructure responsible for producing and distributing counterfeit medicines. The case is currently being prosecuted by the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, according to a recent media report by ThePrint.
Authorities indicated that investigations are ongoing to identify additional members of the trafficking network and to track associated financial transactions and supply chains linked to the illegal pharmaceutical trade.
