India has taken decisive action by banning two highly addictive opioids after a BBC investigation revealed their role in fueling a public health crisis in parts of West Africa. The country’s Drugs Controller General, Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, issued an order withdrawing permission for the manufacture and export of the drugs with immediate effect.
The two drugs in question are tapentadol, a powerful opioid, and carisoprodol, a muscle relaxant known for its addictive properties. While carisoprodol is approved for short-term use in the United States, it is banned in Europe due to its potential for abuse. The combination of these two substances is not licensed anywhere in the world because of severe health risks, including breathing difficulties, seizures, and fatal overdoses.
A BBC Eye investigation exposed Aveo Pharmaceuticals, an Indian company, as a major supplier of this dangerous drug combination to Ghana, Nigeria, and Cote D’Ivoire. The company, along with its sister firm Westfin International, had shipped millions of these tablets to West African markets, where they were found being sold openly on the streets.
The extent of the opioid crisis in Nigeria is alarming, with an estimated four million people abusing opioids, according to the country’s National Bureau of Statistics. The affordability and widespread availability of these pills have exacerbated the problem, particularly among young users.
As part of its investigation, the BBC sent an undercover operative posing as an African businessman to Aveo’s factory in Mumbai. The operative filmed Aveo director Vinod Sharma displaying the same harmful products that were being sold illegally in West Africa. In the secretly recorded footage, Sharma acknowledged the drugs’ harmful effects but justified the business, stating, “Nowadays, this is business.”
Following the revelations, India’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) raided Aveo Pharmaceuticals’ factory, seizing its entire stock and halting production. The agency has pledged further legal action against the company and assured that stricter inspections will be carried out to prevent future illegal exports.
Dr. Raghuvanshi’s directive emphasized the “potential of drug abuse and its harmful impact on the population” as a primary reason for the immediate ban. Authorities have vowed to take strong action against any entities involved in illegal pharmaceutical activities that tarnish India’s global reputation.
This move marks a significant step in curbing the illicit opioid trade and underscores India’s commitment to international public health and regulatory enforcement.
