Bhavesh Lathiya, the 45-year-old founder and executive of Raxuter Chemicals, a company based in Surat, India, pleaded guilty today to distributing and smuggling fentanyl precursor chemicals to the United States.
At a federal court in Brooklyn, Lathiya admitted to illegally selling and smuggling more than 50 pounds of chemicals commonly used to manufacture fentanyl.
This is the first felony conviction of an India-based supplier of fentanyl precursor chemicals, a significant win for law enforcement agencies in the ongoing fight against the opioid epidemic.
Lathiya faces up to 40 years’ imprisonment when sentenced, a stark reminder that those who facilitate the production and distribution of deadly synthetic opioids will be held accountable.
The case against Lathiya was brought by the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York in conjunction with the US Department of Homeland Security and US Customs and Border Protection.
The guilty plea is a significant blow to the international opioid trade, which has claimed countless lives in the US and around the world.
As the investigation continues, the US Attorney’s Office remains committed to dismantling the networks that enable the production and distribution of fentanyl precursor chemicals.
The sentencing hearing for Lathiya is scheduled to take place at a later date, with the exact date to be determined by the court.
Law enforcement officials urge anyone with information about fentanyl precursor smuggling to come forward and report it to the authorities.
In a statement, the US Attorney’s Office said, ‘The guilty plea of Bhavesh Lathiya is a major victory in the fight against the opioid epidemic. We will continue to work tirelessly to dismantle the networks that enable the production and distribution of fentanyl precursor chemicals.’
The case against Lathiya serves as a stark reminder that the US government will not tolerate the smuggling of fentanyl precursor chemicals and will hold those responsible accountable for their actions.
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Key Facts
- State: Alabama
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source â†â€â€ÂÂÂ
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