Indian authorities have imposed an immediate ban on two highly addictive opioids following a BBC investigation that exposed their role in fueling a public health crisis in parts of West Africa.
The country's Drugs Controller General, Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, issued a circular announcing the withdrawal of permission to manufacture and export all combinations of tapentadol and carisoprodol. The decision came after officials examined the drugs’ potential for abuse and their harmful impact on public health.
Tapentadol, a powerful opioid, and carisoprodol, a muscle relaxant banned in Europe, are not licensed for combined use anywhere in the world due to their severe health risks, including breathing difficulties, seizures, and fatal overdoses. Despite this, they are widely sold as street drugs in West African countries, where they are cheap and easily accessible.
The BBC's undercover investigation found that Aveo Pharmaceuticals, based in India, had been illegally exporting these harmful drugs to Ghana, Nigeria, and Côte d'Ivoire. Publicly available export data revealed that Aveo and its sister company, Westfin International, had shipped millions of these pills to West Africa. The pills, bearing the Aveo logo, were found for sale on the streets of Nigeria and in towns and cities across Côte d'Ivoire.
Nigeria, with a population of 225 million, has the largest market for these opioids. An estimated four million Nigerians abuse some form of opioid, according to the country’s National Bureau of Statistics.
As part of its investigation, the BBC sent an undercover operative posing as a businessman into Aveo’s factory in Mumbai. In secretly recorded footage, a company director, Vinod Sharma, was seen discussing the effects of the drugs, acknowledging their harmful nature while emphasizing their business potential.
Following the BBC’s revelations, India’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) raided Aveo’s factory in Mumbai, seizing its entire stock and halting further production. Authorities confirmed that legal action would be taken against those involved, stressing their commitment to preventing the illegal trade of these substances.
The FDA has been directed to conduct further inspections to ensure that the supply of these banned drugs is completely cut off, reinforcing India's stance against activities that harm public health and the country’s reputation.