Indian Opioid Manufacturer Linked to West Africa's Escalating Drug Crisis**

A recent BBC investigation reveals that Mumbai-based Aveo Pharmaceuticals is producing unlicensed addictive opioids, which are exacerbating drug-related health crises in West African nations like Ghana, Nigeria, and Cote D'Ivoire. The documentary showcases undercover footage revealing the company's awareness and indifference towards the severe consequences of its actions.**

The opioid crisis sweeping through West Africa has been linked to illegal exports from an Indian pharmaceutical company, Aveo Pharmaceuticals, raising alarms about public health and safety. A recent BBC Eye investigation has uncovered the alarming practice of producing addictive opioids, which are allegedly being marketed and sold as legitimate medications in countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, and Cote D'Ivoire.

Based in Mumbai, Aveo Pharmaceuticals is reportedly manufacturing pills containing a hazardous mixture of tapentadol, a potent opioid, and carisoprodol, a highly addictive muscle relaxant. Both substances are classified as illegal for public use in many regions around the world, particularly due to the risks they pose, including respiratory distress and seizures that can result in fatal overdoses. Despite the dangers, these drugs have become a go-to option among street dealers in several West African communities due to their low price and easy accessibility.

The BBC's investigation included undercover work that traced the origins of these drugs back to Aveo. An operative posed as a businessman interested in distributing opioids, successfully capturing footage of Vinod Sharma, one of Aveo's directors, admitting that the pills can induce a "relax" state and potentially lead to a "high." Adding to concerns, Sharma, while acknowledging the harmful nature of these drugs, dismissed it by labeling the operation as strictly business.

In towns like Tamale, Ghana, the youth have become increasingly ensnared in opioid addiction, prompting local leaders to initiate grassroots efforts to combat the crisis. Community chiefs have organized volunteer task forces to intercept illicit drug sales, an initiative fueled by the growing prevalence of drug-related chaos and despair among the population. The locals illustrated the pitfalls of addiction through powerful analogies, some comparing the effect of drugs to a raging fire consuming all in its path.

The importation and usage of these unlicensed drugs are not confined to Ghana. Reports indicate that similar products are easily accessible on the streets in Nigeria and Cote D'Ivoire, where they are sometimes mixed with alcohol to amplify their effects. A staggering four million Nigerians reportedly engage in some form of opioid abuse, with officials noting the detrimental impact on families and communities nationwide.

Regulatory measures have attempted to control the situation in response to previous scandals involving opioid painkillers like tramadol. Nevertheless, as restrictions tightened, Aveo began exporting the more potent combination of tapentadol and carisoprodol, which, according to Dr. Lekhansh Shukla, poses an even greater risk compared to the substances that were previously restricted.

While the Indian regulatory authority expressed commitment to uphold global public health standards, the troubling revelations about Aver Pharmaceuticals highlight the scale of this crisis. The investigation also noted that other Indian firms are similarly producing unlicensed opioids, casting a shadow over India's pharmaceutical reputation.

In a poignant conclusion to the investigation, as local task force members burned seized drugs, the ongoing crisis remains at the mercy of those far removed from the frontline battles against addiction—those profiting from the plight of vulnerable communities thousands of miles away.