Washington, D.C. – September 24, 2025 – The United States has announced sanctions against two Indian nationals, Sayyed and Shaikh, accused of supplying fentanyl-filled prescription pills to Americans. The move follows their indictment in September 2024 by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of New York on narcotics-related charges.
According to U.S. authorities, the pair allegedly played a central role in trafficking powerful synthetic opioids disguised as legitimate pharmaceuticals, exacerbating the ongoing fentanyl crisis in the United States. The sanctions freeze any U.S.-based assets belonging to the individuals and prohibit American entities from conducting business with them.
The U.S. government stated that these measures underscore Washington’s commitment to combatting the global flow of synthetic opioids, which continue to fuel a deadly addiction and overdose epidemic across the country.
Officials emphasized that international cooperation will be key in addressing the cross-border networks driving the fentanyl trade. The sanctions aim not only to disrupt operations of the indicted individuals but also to send a strong deterrent message to other traffickers.