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US Sanctions Two Indians, Gujarat Firms for 116 Kg Fentanyl Precursor Supply to Sinaloa Cartel Under NDPS Act

Target:UPSC GS-IIIMPSCSSC GAPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
26 Apr 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:116 kilogramsApril 23, 2026March 17, 2025February 20, 2025
Bodies:US Treasury Department (OFAC)Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS)US State DepartmentUS Department of Justice
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.US OFAC sanctions Satishkumar Sutaria, Yuktakumari Modi, and their firms SR Chemicals & Agrat Chemicals for supplying fentanyl precursors to Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel.

2.The accused were earlier arrested by Gujarat ATS for smuggling 116 kg of precursors using forged documents under sections 28, 29, 30 of the NDPS Act.

3.The case intersects US anti-narcotics sanctions, India's domestic drug enforcement, and the designation of cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organisations.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

The US Treasury Department sanctioned two individuals and their Gujarat-based chemical companies for supplying fentanyl precursors to the Sinaloa Cartel, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organisation. This case highlights India's role in the global synthetic drug supply chain and the cross-border legal challenges in tackling narco-terrorism.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

US Sanctions DateApril 23, 2026
Fentanyl Precursor Quantity116 kilograms
Gujarat ATS Arrest DateMarch 17, 2025
Sinaloa Cartel FTO DesignationFebruary 20, 2025

1-Minute Revision

  • ›US Sanctions Date: April 23, 2026
  • ›Fentanyl Precursor Quantity: 116 kilograms
  • ›Target this Data: 116 kg of fentanyl precursors smuggled
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Sections 28, 29, 30 of the NDPS Act

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which US government department designated the Sinaloa Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO)?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the news:

1. The US sanctions were imposed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) under the Treasury Department.

2. The accused were charged under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for forging end-user certificates.

3. The fentanyl precursors were allegedly smuggled to a shell company in Mexico via air cargo from Maharashtra.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

What total quantity of fentanyl precursors were the accused, Satishkumar Sutaria and Yuktakumari Modi, alleged to have sent to the recipient company, as per the Gujarat ATS?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is a primary implication of the US designating a drug cartel like Sinaloa as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO), as seen in this case?

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