Uncovering the Dark Trade: Indian Opioids Fuel West Africa's Crisis

A BBC Eye investigation has uncovered that Aveo Pharmaceuticals in India is manufacturing and exporting illegal, highly addictive opioids to West Africa, where they are significantly worsening the opioid crisis in countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, and Cote D'Ivoire. Despite the ban on certain drugs, the cheap and easily accessible opioids are destroying countless lives.

An in-depth investigation by BBC Eye has shed light on the alarming practices of Aveo Pharmaceuticals, an Indian pharmaceutical firm implicated in the worsening opioid crisis plaguing West Africa. The investigation reveals that Aveo is producing unlicensed and highly addictive opioids, which are being illegally exported to countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, and Cote D'Ivoire, fueling a major public health emergency.

The Mumbai-based company manufactures a variety of pills that masquerade as legitimate medications, containing a perilous blend of ingredients: tapentadol, an influential opioid, and carisoprodol, a muscle relaxant that is banned in Europe due to its addictive nature. This detrimental cocktail is not licensed for use anywhere in the world and can induce symptoms like breathing difficulties and seizures. Tragically, these cheap and widely available opioids have gained popularity as street drugs in various West African nations.

BBC's investigation tracked the origin of these dangerous drugs, leading to an undercover operation inside Aveo's factory. Posing as an African businessman seeking to supply opioids to Nigeria, a BBC operative recorded undercover discussions with the company's director, Vinod Sharma. During their meeting, Sharma discussed the potent effects of the drugs, cavalierly admitting their addictive properties while branding them as mere business.

In the Ghanaian city of Tamale, a grassroots initiative led by community chief Alhassan Maham is trying to combat the devastation caused by illegal opioids. Maham formed a task force consisting of 100 local volunteers to raid drug dealers and remove these harmful substances from the streets. Their work, however, reveals an alarming reality; many young people have succumbed to the grips of addiction, with one local addict stating that the drugs have “wasted our lives.”

The BBC team shadowed the task force during a raid, revealing Aveo's products on the streets. Packets of the drug Tafrodol—bearing the Aveo logo—were confiscated from dealers, exposing the scale of the problem. Further investigation indicated that similar products distributed by Aveo have been seized in other regions of Ghana, as well as in Nigeria and Cote D'Ivoire.

The situation in Nigeria, a country with a population of 225 million, presents a significant challenge. An estimated four million Nigerians are reported to be abusing some form of opioid, prompting urgent warnings from the National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency, highlighting the crisis as one that is "devastating our youths, our families, it's in every community."

Prior attempts to stem the tide of opioid abuse in Nigeria after the ban of tramadol led to an alarming shift to even more potent alternatives like those from Aveo. The Indian firm appears to have circumvented regulations, sparking concern among West African authorities.

The investigation revealed a mountain of unregulated drugs at Aveo's factory, showcasing a chilling determination to continue production, despite its potentially lethal consequences. Medical professionals warn that the tapentadol-carisoprodol mix poses elevated risks of overdose and severe withdrawal symptoms, creating a public health nightmare.

Despite the mounting evidence against Aveo, the firm's leadership remained unresponsive to the serious accusations. The Indian government's regulatory body emphasized its commitment to ensuring responsible pharmaceutical practices and enforcing strict export regulations, promising collaboration with West African countries to prevent further misconduct.

Yet, amid these assurances, the reality is stark: as local task forces in Tamale incinerate seized drugs to discourage sales, thousands of new shipments are produced and dispatched from Aveo's factory daily, representing a significant challenge to combatting this trade of misery. While grassroots efforts work tirelessly to dismantle the drug networks crippling their communities, the supply chain remains intact, bolstered by the profits of addiction.