Bhavesh Lathiya, Fentanyl Precursor Smuggling, Alabama 2024

Defendant Sentenced to Up to 40 Years in Prison

In a major blow to fentanyl traffickers, Bhavesh Lathiya, a 35-year-old executive from Surat, India, pleaded guilty today to distributing and smuggling fentanyl precursor chemicals to the United States.

The charges stem from Lathiya’s role as the leader and founder of Raxuter Chemicals, a company based in Surat that illegally sold and smuggled over 50 pounds of chemicals commonly used to manufacture fentanyl.

This guilty plea marks the first felony conviction of an India-based supplier of fentanyl precursor chemicals, a significant milestone in the ongoing fight against fentanyl trafficking.

Lathiya’s crimes were uncovered through an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.

The guilty plea was entered before United States District Judge Pamela K. Chen in federal court in Brooklyn, New York.

Lathiya faces a maximum sentence of 40 years’ imprisonment when he is sentenced.

The indictment against Lathiya and Raxuter Chemicals alleges that the company smuggled fentanyl precursor chemicals into the United States through various means, including shipping the chemicals to a third-party company in the United States.

The chemicals were then used to manufacture fentanyl, a highly addictive and deadly synthetic opioid that has ravaged communities across the United States.

The guilty plea is a significant victory for law enforcement and a major blow to fentanyl traffickers, who have been using precursor chemicals to manufacture the deadly drug.

The U.S. Department of Justice has warned that fentanyl precursor chemicals are a key component in the manufacturing of fentanyl, and that disrupting the supply of these chemicals is a critical part of the ongoing fight against fentanyl trafficking.

The indictment against Lathiya and Raxuter Chemicals charges the company and its leader with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl precursor chemicals, as well as other related charges.

Lathiya’s sentencing is scheduled to take place at a later date, and the U.S. Department of Justice will continue to pursue cases against other individuals and companies involved in fentanyl trafficking.

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