BBC Investigation Exposes Indian Firm Supplying Illegal Opioids to West Africa
A shocking BBC Eye Investigation has uncovered how an Indian pharmaceutical company, Aveo Pharmaceuticals, has been illegally manufacturing and exporting highly addictive opioids to West Africa, worsening an already critical public health crisis in the region.
The Mumbai-based company was found to be producing unlicensed pills containing a dangerous mix of tapentadol, a powerful opioid, and carisoprodol, a banned muscle relaxant. These illicit drugs, disguised under various brand names, have flooded the streets of Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire, despite being illegal in these countries.
Undercover Footage Exposes Pharma Executive
As part of the investigation, a BBC undercover reporter, posing as a Nigerian businessman, infiltrated Aveo Pharmaceuticals’ factory. Secretly recorded footage revealed Vinod Sharma, a company director, openly promoting the harmful pills while downplaying their devastating consequences.
In the footage, Sharma admits to the dangers of the drugs but dismisses concerns, stating:
“This is very harmful for their health—but nowadays, this is business.”
The Opioid Crisis in West Africa
The impact of these illicit opioids is evident across West Africa, particularly in Tamale, Ghana, where a rising number of young people have become addicted. In response, local chief Alhassan Maham has formed a volunteer task force to seize and destroy the dangerous pills.
In Nigeria, the chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd.), warned that opioids are “devastating our youths, our families, and every community in Nigeria.”
Authorities have launched crackdowns to combat the influx of these illegal drugs. Nigerian regulatory agencies, including NAFDAC and the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN), confirmed that raids in Lagos and other major cities have resulted in multiple arrests and the seizure of illicit drugs worth billions of naira.
Legal Violations and Calls for Accountability
According to the BBC World Service/BBC Eye report, Indian law prohibits the manufacture and export of unlicensed drugs unless they meet the importing country’s regulations. However, Aveo Pharmaceuticals has been shipping these opioids to Ghana in violation of both Indian and international drug laws.
The Indian drug regulator, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), has responded to the BBC’s findings, pledging to take immediate action against companies engaged in illegal pharmaceutical exports.
Public health advocates are now demanding diplomatic pressure on India to hold Aveo Pharmaceuticals accountable. Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), insists that punitive action must be taken, stating:
“If you don’t get punished for a crime, you will do it again.”
Growing Global Concerns
The BBC’s revelations have sparked widespread outrage, with increasing calls for tighter international controls on pharmaceutical exports. As the opioid crisis continues to spread, authorities in West Africa are racing against time to curb illegal drug trafficking and protect vulnerable communities from the devastating effects of addiction.
