A new investigation from the BBC World Service’s award-winning BBC Eye team has uncovered a disturbing link between an Indian pharmaceutical company, Aveo Pharmaceuticals, and the opioid crisis plaguing West Africa.
The investigation reveals that Aveo is manufacturing unlicensed, addictive opioids and exporting them illegally to West African countries, where they are driving a severe public health emergency.
Aveo Pharmaceuticals, based in Mumbai, produces a range of pills that, although marketed under various brand names, all contain a dangerous combination of tapentadol, a potent opioid, and carisoprodol, a muscle relaxant that is banned in Europe due to its addictive properties.
This lethal combination is not licensed for use anywhere globally and can lead to severe health risks, including breathing problems, seizures, and even death in the case of an overdose.
Despite these grave dangers, the pills have become widely available as street drugs in several West African nations, including Ghana, Nigeria, and Côte d’Ivoire.
In an undercover investigation, BBC Eye traced the pills back to Aveo’s Mumbai factory. A hidden camera captured one of the company’s directors, Vinod Sharma, admitting that these pills were harmful but stating “this is business,” when questioned about the drugs’ addictive effects.
The opioid epidemic is wreaking havoc on communities, particularly in Ghana’s city of Tamale, where local leader Alhassan Maham has organized a task force to combat the widespread use of these illegal drugs. Young people in Nigeria, with a population of 225 million, have been particularly affected, according to Brig Gen Mohammed Buba Marwa, chairman of Nigeria’s Drug and Law Enforcement Agency, who called the opioids “devastating.”
In India, the manufacturing and export of unlicensed drugs is illegal, but Aveo continues to ship these products to Ghana, where they violate local laws as well. The BBC Eye investigation sought comment from Aveo and Sharma, but the company failed to respond.
The Indian drugs regulator, the CDSCO, stated that it is aware of the issue and is taking action to ensure its pharmaceutical industry remains in line with international health standards.
It also emphasised the importance of cooperation with countries like Ghana to prevent such illegal practices.
