Why is India on the U.S. blacklist on fentanyl? | Explained
The story so far: In the latest version of the Major list sent to the US Congress, President Donald Trump said he threatened 23 countries with the US and his people. The list of countries includes India, Pakistan, China and Afghanistan.
Also read | Fentanil: Opioid behind Trump’s tariff threats
What is Major List?
The list of major is compiled every year to emphasize the regions where geography, trade and/or industry’s narcotics or their pioneering chemicals contribute to international markets. The US State Department said that the presence of a country on the list does not necessarily reflect the power of its control efforts, but the definition is based on whether the drugs or chemicals used to do these are produced in significant amounts through that country. This, Afghanistan, Bolivia, Myanmar, Colombia and Venezuela’s obligations within the scope of international drug control agreements is defined as “definitely unsuccessful”.
What is Fentanil?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid and the leading cause of overdose drug deaths in the US was first developed for medical use in the 1960s and is prescribed in controlled and regulated doses for patients of excessive pain. However, in illegal environments, it is about 50 times stronger than fentanyl hero. Only 2 mg can be fatal because it is the agonist of the mu-opioid receptor, a protein that normally reacts to its pain modulation molecules on nerve cells. When Fentanyl connects these receptors in high enough amounts, the brain stem, which controls automatic breathing and passing the blood-brain barrier and concentrates in the central nervous system, suppresses respiratory centers. As a result, the body is exposed to hypoventilation and respiratory depression.
Opioid overdoses are reversed by Naloxon, a competitive Mu-opioid receptor antagonist, displacing opioids from the receptor and restoring normal breathing. However, unprocessed respiratory failure should be applied rapidly as it can cause brain damage and death within a few minutes.
According to US data, Opioid died of an overdose of more than 57,000 Americans from August 2023 to August 2024. The US Drug Application Administration (DEA) reported that in 2022, 50.6 million fentanyl laced pill and 379 million potential to take into account the deadly dose, and that there was a sufficient amount to kill the entire US population.
Why is it difficult to arrange Fentanil?
While heroin or cocaine are derived from plants, the laboratories are used using the compounds called pioneers. The most important of these is the N-feetil-4-piperidone (NPP) and 4-Anilino-n-feetilpiperidine (4-ANPP). These substances have legitimate industrial and pharmaceutical uses, but can be directed to illegal supply chains.
In a false laboratory, pioneers are processed to fentanyl powder by chemical reactions common in organic chemistry. First, the NPP is converted to 4 ANPP in a reduction amination reaction where a trailer carrying nitrogen is connected to the NPP ring and stabilized with a slight reduction agent. The 4-ANPP then undergoes a nitrogen atom of a noble group (RC (= O)) and a fentanyl reacting. These reactions can be performed with ordinary glassware, solvents and medium heat. As a result, the smugglers can easily make them fentanyl after receiving pioneering compounds. And since only a small amount of pioneers are required to make large amounts of fentanil and these substances can be secretly sent, it was difficult to regulate trade.
How is Fentanil provided?
The international fentanyl supply chain contains more than one actor. China and India play important roles in the production of pioneering chemicals directed to illegal channels. Mexican cartels are the center of processing these pioneers into fentanyl dust. Once produced, dust is pressed into counterfeit pills or mixed with other narcotics and is especially kidnapped to the US along the southwest border with Mexico. On the other hand, the US government continued the criminal prosecution of companies and executives, trade penalties, diplomatic pressure and advanced law enforcement officers. In January 2025, two Indian companies, Raxuter Chemicals and Athos Chemicals were accused of conspiracy to export Fentanil premises to the United States and Mexico. Bhavesh Lathiya, the senior manager of Raxuter Chemicals, was arrested in New York and accused of smuggling. Following these cases, the US Embassy in New Delhi canceled and rejected some business managers and families -related visas associated with Fentanyl pioneers.
In February 2025, the Trump administration added 10% more motivations to Canadian and Mexican imports and referring to Fentanyl smuggling to Chinese imports. The tariffs in Canada and Mexico were suspended after these governments agreed to strengthen border practices, and the tariffs on China entered into force.
In Turkey, DEA has concentrated to seize Fentanyl shipments, dismantle human trafficking networks and cut false pills similar to legitimate drugs such as oxycodone. Parallel, Naloxon is more widely distributed, awareness campaigns have warned consumers that fake pills may contain a fatal amount of fentanyl. Treatment programs for opioid addiction are strengthened to reduce demand and provide alternatives to those who struggle with addiction.
Published – 21 September 2025 02:20 AM IST
