Indian Firm, Executives Charged By DOJ For Illegal Chemical Imports

Photo: Daniel Th

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Justice has charged Indian chemical manufacturer Vasudha Pharma Chem Limited (VPC) and three of its executives for allegedly importing precursor chemicals used in the production of illicit fentanyl. The charges, announced on March 20, are part of an intensified federal crackdown on fentanyl trafficking.

Federal agents arrested two senior VPC officials in New York City—63-year-old Tanweer Ahmed Mohamed Hussain Parkar, the company’s Chief Global Business Officer, and 48-year-old Venkata Naga Madhusudhan Raju Manthena, its Marketing Director. A third accused individual, Krishna Vericharla, a 40-year-old VPC Marketing Representative, remains at large.

Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, has been a driving force behind the ongoing drug crisis in the U.S.

According to the indictment, the defendants conspired to manufacture and distribute fentanyl precursor chemicals, fully aware that the substances would be unlawfully imported into the U.S. for fentanyl production. The company allegedly marketed these chemicals on its website, in promotional materials, and at international trade fairs. Between March and November 2024, undercover U.S. agents reportedly purchased 25 kilograms of fentanyl precursors from VPC. Further negotiations between August and September 2024 involved a four-metric-tonne deal for the chemical N-BOC-4P, with half destined for Sinaloa, Mexico, and the remainder for the U.S., at a price of $380,000.

If convicted, the accused individuals face up to 10 years in prison, while Vasudha Pharma Chem Limited, based in Hyderabad could be fined up to $500,000 per count.

The investigation into VPC’s alleged role in the illicit drug trade remains ongoing.