The British state broadcaster, the BBC, has uncovered a massive trafficking operation in Ghana, Nigeria, Cote D'Ivoire, and other West African countries, which it says is fuelling the opioid health crisis in the sub-region.
An investigation by BBC Eye found an Indian pharmaceutical company, Aveo Pharmaceuticals, based in Mumbai, which manufactures unlicensed, highly addictive opioids and smuggles them to Ghana and the other West African countries.
Details of the investigation shared on bbc.com indicated that the drugs manufactured by Aveo Pharmaceuticals are full of harmful illegal components. "Aveo Pharmaceuticals, based in Mumbai, makes a range of pills that go under different brand names and are packaged to look like legitimate medicines.
But all contain the same harmful mix of ingredients: tapentadol, a powerful opioid, and carisoprodol, a muscle relaxant so addictive it's banned in Europe. "This combination of drugs is not licensed for use anywhere in the world and can cause breathing difficulties and seizures.
