Two Indians Sanctioned by US for Fentanyl Trafficking Linked to Sinaloa Cartel
Two Indians, their firms hit by US sanctions for fentanyl ‘dealings’
The Indian Express
Image: The Indian Express
Satishkumar Hareshbhai Sutaria and Yuktakumari Ashishkumar Modi, from Surat, Gujarat, India, have been sanctioned by the US Treasury for their roles in a fentanyl precursor trafficking operation linked to the Sinaloa Cartel. They allegedly supplied chemicals to a Guatemala-based firm involved in smuggling to Mexico.
- 01Two Indians linked to fentanyl precursor trafficking have been sanctioned by the US.
- 02The individuals are associated with SR Chemicals and Agrat Chemicals in Surat, Gujarat.
- 03They allegedly forged documents to procure and smuggle fentanyl precursors.
- 04The US crackdown targets the Sinaloa Cartel, a major drug trafficking organization.
- 05Sutaria and Modi are currently out on bail and await trial in India.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Satishkumar Hareshbhai Sutaria (37) and Yuktakumari Ashishkumar Modi (26), both from Surat, Gujarat, India, have been sanctioned by the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for their alleged involvement in a fentanyl precursor trafficking operation linked to the Sinaloa Cartel. The sanctions were part of a broader US initiative targeting narcotics trafficking. Sutaria and Modi are associated with SR Chemicals and Agrat Chemicals, which reportedly supplied chemicals mislabelled as 'safe' to a Guatemala-based firm, J&C Imports, suspected of being a front for the cartel. The two were arrested by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on March 17, 2025, for illegally procuring fentanyl precursors using forged end-user certificates and smuggling them to Mexico. They allegedly sent 116 kg of precursors, with 50 kg seized before shipment. Both individuals were granted bail in February 2026 and await trial in Surat. The case highlights ongoing efforts by US authorities to dismantle drug trafficking networks linked to the Sinaloa Cartel, which was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US State Department in February 2022.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
The case underscores the serious legal repercussions of drug trafficking in India, impacting local businesses involved in chemical manufacturing.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
Should stricter regulations be implemented for chemical manufacturers to prevent drug trafficking?
Connecting to poll...
More about US Treasury Department
US Freezes $344 Million in Cryptocurrency Linked to Iran Amid Ongoing Middle East Conflict
The Economic Times • Apr 25, 2026
US Targets Chinese Refinery and Shipping Firms Over Iranian Oil Trade
The Times Of India • Apr 25, 2026
US Imposes Sanctions on Chinese Refinery and Iranian Oil Transporters Ahead of Diplomatic Talks
The Economic Times • Apr 25, 2026
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.




