An India-based chemical manufacturing company, Vasudha Pharma Chem Limited (VPC), along with three of its senior employees, has been indicted in a federal court in Washington, D.C. The charges relate to the illegal importation of precursor chemicals used for producing illicit fentanyl.
The indictment names VPC's Chief Global Business Officer Tanweer Ahmed Mohamed Hussain Parkar, 63, from India and the United Kingdom; Marketing Director Venkata Naga Madhusudhan Raju Manthena, 48, from India; and Marketing Representative Krishna Vericharla, 40, also from India. They face multiple counts of manufacturing and distributing a List I fentanyl precursor chemical for unlawful importation into the United States.
According to the indictment, VPC allegedly advertised these precursor chemicals globally through its website, marketing materials, and at international trade shows. From March to November 2024, the defendants reportedly conspired to distribute a fentanyl precursor chemical knowing it would be unlawfully imported into the U.S. On two occasions in March and August 2024, they sold an undercover agent 25 kilograms of N-BOC-4-piperidone (N-BOC-4P), a List I chemical.
Further allegations state that between August and September 2024, negotiations took place with an undercover agent for a four-metric-ton purchase of N-BOC-4P. This included two metric tons destined for Sinaloa, Mexico, and another two metric tons for the U.S., totaling approximately $380,000. The intention was to use this chemical to manufacture fentanyl unlawfully imported into the U.S.
The indictment comprises four counts against all defendants: conspiracy to manufacture and distribute a listed chemical for unlawful importation into the U.S., manufacture and distribution of a listed chemical for unlawful importation into the U.S., attempted manufacture and distribution of such chemicals for similar purposes. Additionally, VPC alongside Vericharla and Manthena faces a second count of manufacturing and distributing a listed chemical unlawfully imported into the U.S. If convicted, each individual defendant could face up to 10 years in prison while VPC could incur fines up to $500,000 per count.
Federal agents arrested Parkar and Manthena in New York City today. The announcement was made by Matthew R. Galeotti from the Justice Department’s Criminal Division along with Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter from DEA Miami Field Division.
The investigation is being conducted by DEA Miami Field Division’s Counternarcotic Cyber Investigations Task Force which includes members from Homeland Security Investigations, IRS-Criminal Investigations as well as state and local agencies in South Florida. Support is provided by the Special Operations Unit of Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section.
Acting Deputy Chief Melanie Alsworth along with Trial Attorneys Jayce Born and Lernik Begian from Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section are prosecuting this case.