By Bunmi Yekini
A BBC World Service investigation by the BBC Eye Investigations team has uncovered a startling cross-border drug trafficking operation. The documentary, India’s Opioid Kings, reveals that Aveo Pharmaceuticals, based in Mumbai, is manufacturing unlicensed opioids which are being illegally exported to West Africa, where they are contributing to a severe public health crisis.
Aveo Pharmaceuticals produces a variety of pills that, despite their seemingly legitimate packaging and branding, all contain a dangerous mix of tapentadol, a potent opioid, and carisoprodol, a muscle relaxant so addictive that it is banned in Europe. This unapproved combination can lead to breathing difficulties, seizures, and even death in cases of overdose.
Undercover Revelations
The BBC investigation traced the street sale of these pills to West African countries including Ghana, Nigeria, and Cote D’Ivoire. Hidden camera footage, recorded during an undercover operation at Aveo’s factory, captured one of the company’s directors, Vinod Sharma, demonstrating the very products found circulating on the streets of West Africa. When approached by an undercover operative posing as an African businessman, Sharma calmly responded to his inquiries.
“I plan to sell these pills to teenagers in Nigeria who all love this product,” the operative revealed in the recording. Sharma’s response was disarmingly casual: “OK,” he replied, before explaining that users could “relax” and get “high” if they took two or three pills at once. Holding up a box of pills manufactured in his factory, Sharma conceded, “This is very harmful for their health — but nowadays, this is business.”
Impact on West African Communities
The illicit drug trade is wreaking havoc on communities across West Africa. In Tamale, Ghana, where the abuse of these opioids is rampant among the youth, community leaders are taking drastic measures. Alhassan Maham, a local chief, has established a voluntary task force of around 100 citizens tasked with raiding drug dealers and confiscating the harmful pills.
The task force in Tamale believe this man had taken Tafrodol, which was found in the raid
“The drugs consume the sanity of those who abuse them, like a fire burns when kerosene is poured on it,” Maham said, highlighting the destructive impact of these substances. A local addict summed up the community’s despair, stating simply, “They have wasted our lives.”
Nigeria, with a population of 225 million, represents the largest market for these illicit opioids. Brig Gen Mohammed Buba Marwa, Chairman of Nigeria’s Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), warned that the influx of these drugs is “devastating our youths, our families, it’s in every community in Nigeria.”
Regulatory Response and Ongoing Investigations
Under Indian law, pharmaceutical companies are prohibited from manufacturing and exporting unlicensed drugs unless they meet the strict standards of the destination country. Aveo’s shipment of products like Tafrodol to Ghana violates both Indian law and Ghanaian regulatory standards. The Indian drugs regulator, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), asserted that the government is committed to a strong, responsible pharmaceutical regulatory system.
“We are closely monitoring all exports and enforcing tightened regulations,” the CDSCO stated, adding that it is collaborating with West African authorities to prevent further malpractice. The regulator pledged immediate action against any firm found to be involved in such dangerous operations.
Documentary Availability
India’s Opioid Kings is available in the UK on BBC iPlayer from Friday, 21 February. International viewers can watch the film on the BBC Africa YouTube channel. For further details, the full story can be read on the BBC News website.
This investigation sheds light on a global pharmaceutical malpractice that is not only breaking the law but is also destroying the futures of millions of young people in West Africa.
Credit: BBC World Service/BBC EYE