MUMBAI—A BBC undercover investigation has revealed that Indian pharmaceutical company Aveo Pharmaceuticals manufactured and illegally exported millions of unlicensed opioid pills to West Africa, exacerbating a public health crisis in the region. The Mumbai-based firm allegedly produced drugs containing a dangerous mix of tapentadol, a potent opioid, and carisoprodol, a muscle relaxant banned in Europe, according to footage and documents obtained by BBC Eye Investigations.
The pills, sold under brand names like Tafrodol and Super Royal-225, were found in street markets across Ghana, Nigeria, and Côte d’Ivoire. Health officials warn the combination—unlicensed globally—causes respiratory failure, seizures, and fatal overdoses.
Key Details from the Investigation
In secretly recorded footage, Aveo director Vinod Sharma admitted the drugs are “very harmful” but defended their production as “business.” The BBC operative, posing as a Nigerian buyer, told Sharma the pills would target teenagers. Sharma responded that users could “relax” and “get high” by taking multiple tablets.
Ghanaian authorities confirmed seizing Aveo-branded pills during raids led by local task forces. In Tamale, northern Ghana, volunteers described finding people with addiction in stupors. “The drugs consume sanity like fire burns kerosene,” said Chief Alhassan Maham, who organized community efforts to intercept shipments.
Export records show Aveo and its sister company, Westfin International, shipped millions of pills to West Africa. Nigeria, where an estimated 4 million people abuse opioids, remains the largest market. Brig Gen Mohammed Marwa, chairman of Nigeria’s Drug Law Enforcement Agency, called the crisis “devastating,” with opioids permeating “every community.”
Regulatory Gaps and Global Impact
Aveo’s activities highlight loopholes in international drug regulation. After Nigeria and India restricted tramadol sales in 2018, Aveo shifted to tapentadol-carispodrol blends—a stronger, unregulated alternative. India’s Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) stated it monitors exports but acknowledged reliance on destination countries’ regulations. Ghana’s Drug Enforcement Agency confirmed the pills are illegal there, rendering Aveo’s exports a violation of Indian law.
Dr. Lekhansh Shukla, an addiction specialist at India’s National Institute of Mental Health, warned the combination suppresses breathing and causes severe withdrawal symptoms. “No clinical trials justify this mix,” he said.
Broader Implications for India’s Pharma Sector
The scandal risks damaging India’s $28 billion pharmaceutical industry, a global leader in generic medicines. Legal manufacturers fear eroded trust could hinder access to lifesaving drugs.
Response and Next Steps
Indian regulators pledged to investigate Aveo and collaborate with West African officials. Meanwhile, Ghanaian task forces continue burning seized pills—a symbolic effort against a flood of illicit shipments.
“We burn these drugs publicly to warn suppliers,” said Zickay, a Tamale task force leader. Yet Aveo’s factories reportedly operate unabated, underscoring the challenge of curbing cross-border pharmaceutical trafficking.
