The BBC Eye investigation has uncovered a shocking truth about India’s pharmaceutical industry and its connection to the opioid crisis in West Africa. For over a decade, West Africa has been struggling with an opioid crisis, fueled by illicit pills that are twice as potent as tramadol. These pills are manufactured by an Indian pharmaceutical company, Aveo Pharmaceuticals, which has been exporting them to West Africa.
The investigation revealed that Aveo Pharmaceuticals has been producing pills containing a dangerous combination of tapentadol and carisoprodol, muscle relaxants which are banned in the UK, and are not licensed for use anywhere in the world, but unfortunately they have flooded the streets of West Africa.
These pills have been linked to severe health risks, including breathing difficulties, seizures, and fatal overdoses. Many people fear eating at parties and many social gatherings with fear of injecting the unknown since they youth consume these illicit drugs and substances in various forms.
The human cost of this crisis is staggering. In Ghana, Nigeria, and Côte d’Ivoire, communities are being devastated by addiction, overdose, and death. The crisis has also led to a rise in crime, unemployment, and family breakdowns.
Having traced the source to an Indian company Aveo pharmaceuticals being headed by Vinod Sharm. The BBC Eye investigation raises critical questions about the role of Indian pharmaceutical companies in the global opioid crisis and what actions governments and regulatory bodies will take to stop the flow of these deadly drugs.
The investigation has also sparked concerns about the lack of regulation and oversight in India’s pharmaceutical industry. From the secret video recorded during the teams visit to the producers it was captured that a company in Ghana under the name Samospharm Limited in Accra Ghana was the primary recipient of the drugs although they have denied the allegations, It’s clear that urgent action is needed to address this crisis. Governments, regulatory bodies, and pharmaceutical companies must work together to stop the production and export of these illicit pills and provide support to communities affected by the crisis.
