U.S. Attorney Breon S. Peace | U.S. Department of Justice
Two Indian chemical companies, Raxuter Chemicals and Athos Chemicals Pvt. Ltd., along with Bhavesh Lathiya, a senior executive of Raxuter Chemicals, have been indicted on charges related to distributing fentanyl precursor chemicals to the United States. The indictments were unsealed at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn. Lathiya was arrested on January 4, 2025, in New York City and has been detained pending trial.
The arrest and indictments were announced by Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Merrick B. Garland, United States Attorney General; and Alejandro N. Mayorkas, Department of Homeland Security Secretary.
“Our efforts to disrupt the global fentanyl supply chain are being fought on many fronts," stated United States Attorney Peace. He emphasized the commitment to prosecuting those contributing to the opioid epidemic.
Attorney General Garland highlighted the international scope of fentanyl trafficking supply chains and reiterated the Justice Department's promise to hold accountable those responsible for the crisis: "We allege these companies... conspired to distribute and import fentanyl precursor chemicals from India to the United States and Mexico."
DHS Secretary Mayorkas commented on the broader implications of such illegal activities: “Much of our nation’s illicit fentanyl crisis can be traced to bad actors overseas who knowingly and illegally traffic precursor chemicals.”
Fentanyl is recognized as a highly potent synthetic opioid, posing a significant threat in the U.S. The indicted parties face multiple charges including conspiracy to distribute and import listed chemicals used in fentanyl production.
Court documents reveal that defendants allegedly supplied precursor chemicals internationally with knowledge they would be used for manufacturing fentanyl. They reportedly employed deceptive practices like mislabeling packages to avoid detection.
If convicted on all charges, Lathiya could face up to 53 years in prison. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Amir, William P. Campos, and Chand Edwards-Balfour.
