Indian, US Agencies Conduct Joint Operation To Prevent Shipment Of Illegal Drugs And Devices

NEW DELHI: India and the US conducted a joint operation to prevent global shipments of illegal drugs and medical devices, wherein they stopped above 500 shipments of prescription drugs and synthetic drugs without approval from reaching consumers in America.

The joint operation, named ‘Operation Broader Sword’ was a bilateral enforcement action by multiple agencies that specifically set its target on illicit pharmaceuticals, devices or precursor chemicals, which are shipped using the international mail system, a statement by the US embassy said on Friday.

The operation was conducted jointly by India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), and the US’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).

The operation which was conducted in June, managed to stop “500 shipments of illicit, and potentially dangerous, unapproved prescription drugs, combination medical devices, and synthetic drug precursors from reaching American consumers”, the statement stated.

Operation Broader Sword set sights on packages from India entering the US through the JFK airport in New York and Chicago’s ORD international mail facilities (IMFs) between June 12 and 23. More than 1,500 shipments originating in India were examined by investigators, and action was taken on about 500 products, including “illicit and illegal medications intended to treat and or mitigate serious diseases”.

The statement further said that many of the shipments were found to have included opioid and other drug products containing controlled substances.

Special agents of Homeland Security also led an operation for “controlled delivery” of a shipment of suspected products, resulting in the arrest of an Indian national for illegally importing illicit pharmaceuticals that included opioids and other controlled substances.

DEA country attaché for India, Mark Fredrick said, “US law enforcement and regulatory agencies already enjoy a strong working relationship with Indian counterparts under the bilateral Counternarcotics Working Group and now have expanded that cooperation to work closely under Operation Broader Sword.”

He added that such initiatives protect people in the US and India, at the same time help India to identify traffickers who either operate in India or seek to expand into the country. The operation also contributed to Indian law enforcement agencies to protect against flows of illicit drugs that are likely to harm Indian citizens.

US and Indian law enforcement officials worked together to gather understanding of international criminal networks that can help gaining leverage in protecting citizens of both countries.

Operation Broader Sword was built on the success gained from Operation Broadsword, which also targeted mail parcels comprising illicit medical products from India and was conducted in 2020 at Chicago’s IMF.

That operation also had participation of Indian officials and was successful in stopping the shipment of illicit and potentially dangerous unapproved prescription drugs and a combination of medical devices from reaching consumers.

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