The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has shut down more than 200 illegal online pharmacies linked to an India-based transnational criminal organization (TCO) accused of selling counterfeit prescription medicines containing fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid. US authorities said the action was part of a wider effort to curb overdose deaths linked to unregulated online drug sales. Authorities also confirmed that four individuals have been arrested in connection with the operation.
Investigations revealed that the online pharmacies were marketing counterfeit pills as commonly prescribed painkillers such as oxycodone and hydrocodone. Laboratory testing confirmed that several of these pills contained fentanyl or fentanyl analogues, substances known to cause rapid respiratory depression and fatal overdoses even at low doses.
The DEA carried out the operation in coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
The TCO tied to these illegal online pharmacies has been under investigation by DEA’s Rocky Mountain Field Division since 2022
DEA, Press Statement
According to US officials, the pharmacies were linked to a transnational syndicate with operational connections to India. While the end users were largely based in the United States, investigators identified India-linked infrastructure involved in website management, payment processing, and order fulfillment.
Authorities clarified that the enforcement action targeted illegal digital operations and not licensed pharmaceutical manufacturers or regulated pharmacies in India.
The shutdown was announced in early 2024 following months of investigation by US federal agencies. Because the pharmacies functioned entirely online, they were able to reach consumers across multiple US states without maintaining physical premises.
The cross-border nature of these operations required coordination between US agencies and international partners to disable websites, payment systems, and associated digital services.
This case demonstrates how foreign-based traffickers exploit our healthcare system, hide behind the internet, and use people inside the United States to move dangerous drugs under the guise of legitimate commerce. Illegal online pharmacies put poison in American communities. They sell counterfeit and unapproved pills and do not care who gets hurt or who dies. Actions like this save lives. They protect the American people. If you run these sites, supply them, move the money, ship the product, or help them operate, we will find you, we will dismantle your operations, and we will hold you fully accountable under U.S. law.
Terrance Cole, DEA Administrator, Press Statement
Health authorities have consistently warned that counterfeit medicines sold online bypass regulatory oversight, quality assurance, and dosage standards.
US agencies linked illegal online pharmacies to a rising number of overdose incidents and poison control reports. Consumers often assume online pills are legitimate, unaware of their actual chemical composition.
Investigators reported that the syndicate used professionally designed websites that closely resembled legitimate online pharmacies. These platforms offered home delivery, accepted digital payments, and avoided prescription verification. The DEA stated that disabling the digital infrastructure was essential to disrupting drug distribution, although authorities acknowledged that such networks often attempt to reappear using new domains.
References
1. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. “DEA Operation Meltdown Shuts Down Hundreds of Illegal Online Pharmacies.” Press release, February 4, 2026. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. https://www.dea.gov/press-releases/2026/02/04/dea-operation-meltdown-shuts-down-hundreds-illegal-online-pharmacies
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