According to the US State Department, “Illicit fentanyl is killing too many Americans,” and it noted that sanctioned online pharmacies like KS International Traders allegedly sold “hundreds of thousands” of counterfeit pills laced with the drug throughout the country.
The actions are being enforced under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and specifically target close business associates of the company and its owner.
The department indicated that KS International Traders profited from fentanyl trafficking, which the US administration has classified as a Weapon of Mass Destruction.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50–100 times more powerful than morphine and is used in controlled medical environments for severe pain management, such as post-surgery recovery and cancer treatment.
In a separate enforcement measure in 2025, the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated KS International Traders as part of an illicit fentanyl trafficking network.
What we know about the company and its operators
As per OFAC’s designation, KS International Traders is an online pharmacy based in Mumbai, alleged to have sold counterfeit prescription drugs containing fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, and methamphetamine, mainly to US customers.
The Treasury identified Khizar Mohammad Iqbal Shaikh as the operator and owner of the firm, with Sadiq Abbas Habib Sayyed being noted as a participant in the related network.
The US accused the operation of selling counterfeit medications, including oxycodone, Xanax, and Adderall, shipping hundreds of thousands of pills to US clients.
US government documents classify KS International Traders as a “purported online pharmacy” established in December 2022. Authorities claim it served as a facade for illegal pharmaceutical distribution rather than a legitimate pharmacy.
The website referenced in US government documents, ksinternationalpharmacy.com, was inaccessible from India at the time of this report.
