New York, Feb 6 (NationPress) – In a significant partnership with Indian law enforcement in the fight against drugs, US authorities have targeted online drug traffickers associated with India, who are reportedly responsible for six overdose fatalities in the US.

The US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) announced that they apprehended four individuals within the US and confiscated 200 websites tied to a “transnational criminal organization” (TCO) based in India during the operation dubbed “Operation Meltdown”.

According to the DEA, they are actively working with Indian law enforcement to identify, investigate, and dismantle perilous criminal organizations involved in illegal drug trafficking operations.

DEA Administrator Terrance Cole, while unveiling the crackdown, stated: “This case illustrates how foreign traffickers exploit our healthcare system, operate online, and enlist individuals within the United States to distribute dangerous drugs disguised as legitimate commerce.”

The DEA, in cooperation with the US prosecutor’s office for Eastern New York situated in Brooklyn, reported that they seized websites that were designed to mimic authentic pharmacy sites but were illegally dispensing medications.

According to the DEA, they have identified thousands of customers who utilized these online pharmacies and have dispatched over 20,000 letters to the public seeking information to aid in this ongoing investigation.

The TCO under scrutiny has been investigated since 2022 by the DEA field office in Colorado, as stated by the agency.

Following this, DEA field offices across the US executed several raids beginning January 27, resulting in the arrest of four individuals whose identities were not disclosed.

The DEA also issued five Immediate Suspension Orders (ISOs) and one Order to Show Cause (OTSC) against the so-called “pharmacies” that potentially possessed some form of DEA registration.

As per the DEA, the “online pharmacies” taken down boasted US website addresses and professional designs to deceitfully present themselves as legitimate.

The counterfeit drugs they distributed “are frequently manufactured with fentanyl or methamphetamine, and consuming them can lead to severe health hazards, including detrimental side effects, ineffective treatment, and even mortality,” the agency reported.

Investigators discovered that the online pharmacies and their accomplices unlawfully dispensed and shipped diverted medications without valid prescriptions to consumers across the US, infringing upon the Controlled Substances Act, according to the DEA.

These operations reveal that drug traffickers were “dangerously infiltrating a closed distribution system designed to ensure patient safety” by mandating doctors' prescriptions, the agency noted.

Former President Donald Trump prioritized the battle against illicit drugs, particularly fentanyl.

The US government reported that 73,000 individuals succumbed to drug overdoses during the 12-month period ending in August.

Trump had threatened China, the primary source of precursor chemicals for fentanyl production, with tariffs and other punitive measures.

He asserted that involvement in drug trafficking was a significant factor in the ousting of Venezuela's former President, Nicolas Maduro.

The US has targeted vessels allegedly transporting drugs, while Trump also threatened action against Colombia, Mexico, and other nations.

However, he refrained from targeting India due to the Indian government's cooperation in combatting drug trafficking, and India's status as a minor source of illegal drugs in the broader context.