Washington, DC [US], February 6 (ANI): The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on February 4 revealed the outcome of 'Operation Meltdown,' a large-scale crackdown that led to the seizure of more than 200 internet domains linked to illegal online pharmacies run by an India-based transnational criminal syndicate, according to Newsweek Editorial Director (Asia) Danish Manzoor Bhat.

Authorities said the network has been associated with at least six fatal and four non-fatal overdoses across the United States due to the circulation of fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills.

The probe, conducted by the DEA's Rocky Mountain Field Division, had been underway since 2022 and resulted in arrests, regulatory actions, and the dismantling of a sophisticated digital distribution network.

Officials highlighted the growing danger posed by fake prescription drugs sold online and shipped directly to American consumers. Marketed as legitimate medicines, these tablets are often contaminated with fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid where even a single pill can prove deadly.

'This operation strikes at the heart of the criminal networks poisoning our communities,' the DEA said.

While the statement focused on domestic enforcement, it also pointed to international cooperation, including collaboration with India. The agency said, 'Leveraging its global reach, DEA actively collaborates with our Government of India law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and dismantle dangerous criminal organizations that engage in these types of illegal drug trafficking operations.'

US authorities noted that the fentanyl crisis continues to shift rapidly, with traffickers constantly adjusting routes, chemicals, financial channels, and sales strategies. Over time, the supply chain has evolved into a flexible global system, making overseas partnerships crucial to disrupting operations at early stages.

Officials stressed that by the time fentanyl reaches homes in pill form, intervention becomes extremely difficult. The most effective disruptions occur earlier, before precursor chemicals are transformed, shipments reach clandestine labs, or counterfeit tablets appear on online platforms.

Although overdose deaths dropped sharply in 2024 to a five-year low, federal health data still recorded nearly 80,000 fatalities, with synthetic opioids remaining the primary cause. As enforcement pressure increased, traffickers increasingly shifted from street sales to online platforms and international shipping routes.

Preventing fentanyl from entering the US has proven far more challenging than targeting production and distribution upstream, elevating the importance of cooperation with countries positioned along the global chemical supply chain.