A recent US intelligence report has highlighted India’s growing role in the illegal fentanyl trade, a designation that may raise concerns in New Delhi, especially as President Donald Trump considers trade measures against countries he believes are not doing enough to curb the flow of the deadly drug into the United States.
Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid up to 100 times more potent than morphine, is the leading cause of overdose-related deaths in the US. The drug has significantly contributed to the opioid crisis, which remains a top priority for the Trump administration.
For years, China has been the primary supplier of both legal fentanyl for medical use and precursor chemicals that are processed in Mexico before being smuggled into the US.
However, the 2025 Annual Threat Assessment (ATA) report, released this month by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, indicates that India’s role in the illicit trade is expanding.
The report states that “nonstate groups are often supported, directly or indirectly, by state actors, including China and India, as sources of precursor chemicals and equipment used by drug traffickers.” It further notes that “China remains the leading supplier of illicit fentanyl precursors and pill pressing equipment, followed by India.”
Last year’s ATA report had identified India as one of the countries, apart from China, from which Mexican cartels were sourcing precursor chemicals, albeit to a lesser extent.
As one of the world’s largest producers of vaccines and medicines, India plays a key role in the global pharmaceutical industry, particularly in the manufacturing of generic drugs.
