Investigation reveals Indian opioids fueling addiction crisis across West Africa

A joint investigation by BBC Africa Eye, Bellingcat and Newslaundry has uncovered an extensive network of Indian pharmaceutical exports allegedly driving a growing opioid addiction crisis across several West African countries.

The investigation revealed that more than 60 pharmaceutical companies in India exported high-potency synthetic opioid pills valued at nearly $130 million between 2023 and 2025 to countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Benin.

According to the report, the drugs particularly Tapentadol-based products have become increasingly common in informal drug markets across the region, contributing to rising addiction rates among young people and worsening public health concerns.

Investigators described the trade as a “pharmaceutical pipeline” exploiting weak regulatory systems in vulnerable African markets.

While Tramadol has long dominated illicit opioid consumption in West Africa, the investigation found that traffickers and suppliers are increasingly turning to Tapentadol, a significantly stronger opioid painkiller.

Researchers said many of the exported products exceeded dosage levels permitted even in India. The investigation also alleged that some manufacturers produced unapproved drug combinations containing Tapentadol and Carisoprodol, a muscle relaxant banned in several countries due to safety concerns.

One of the companies named in the investigation, Mumbai-based Aveo Pharmaceuticals, was accused of manufacturing products marketed under names such as “Tafrodol,” which investigators claimed were shipped to African markets despite lacking proper approval in destination countries.

Health experts warned that prolonged abuse of the substances can lead to respiratory complications, psychological disorders, seizures and severe dependency.

Authorities and health workers across West Africa say opioid abuse has increasingly become a major social crisis, especially among unemployed youth.

In countries such as Sierra Leone and Liberia, officials have linked the spread of synthetic opioids to the emergence of “Kush,” a dangerous street drug mixture associated with extreme lethargy, hallucinations and mental instability.

Trade data reviewed during the investigation showed Sierra Leone received the largest volume of Tapentadol imports during the period under review, followed by Ghana and Benin, while Nigeria also recorded significant inflows.

Following earlier findings published in 2025, Indian authorities reportedly moved to tighten oversight of opioid exports.

The Drugs Controller General of India announced restrictions on the production and export of certain Tapentadol-Carisoprodol combinations and revoked licenses of several implicated manufacturers.

In Nigeria, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) also issued public health alerts warning about falsified and unapproved opioid products circulating in the country.

Security experts have additionally warned that illicit opioid trafficking could worsen instability in parts of the Sahel region, where armed groups are believed to use narcotics to sustain fighters and finance criminal operations.

The revelations have intensified calls for stronger regional cooperation among West African governments to combat pharmaceutical trafficking and strengthen border and drug regulations.

Public health advocates are urging authorities to improve addiction treatment programs while tightening import controls on high-risk narcotics.

Analysts say the investigation highlights broader concerns about weak pharmaceutical oversight systems and the growing exploitation of Africa’s healthcare markets by international drug networks.