The DEA has seized more than 200 website domains tied to an India‑based criminal network accused of selling diverted and counterfeit medications across the United States. The organization is linked to at least six fatal and four non‑fatal overdoses and has been under investigation since 2022.
Beginning Jan. 27, 2026, DEA field offices carried out coordinated actions that resulted in four arrests, five Immediate Suspension Orders, and one Order to Show Cause. Federal officials say the sites filled hundreds of thousands of orders without valid prescriptions, violating the Controlled Substances Act.
Investigators say the operators shipped diverted and counterfeit pills—often containing fentanyl or methamphetamine—to customers nationwide. Because the network served buyers across the country, residents in North Carolina and South Carolina could be among the thousands of customers the DEA has contacted for information. Both states continue to see rising fentanyl‑related overdoses, and rural communities in Brunswick, Columbus, and Horry counties are especially vulnerable to deceptive online pharmacies that appear legitimate.
“These illegal pharmacies put poison in American communities,” said DEA Administrator Terrance Cole, noting that many of the seized sites used U.S.‑based web addresses and professional‑looking designs to appear trustworthy.
DEA warns consumers to avoid online pharmacies that do not require a valid prescription, offer unusually low prices, list foreign currency, or ship medication in damaged or unfamiliar packaging. Pills that look different from previous prescriptions are another red flag.
More guidance on safe online purchasing is available through the FDA’s BeSafeRx campaign. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.
Source: U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
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