At the centre of the controversy is Aveo Pharmaceuticals, an Indian company accused of illegally exporting the harmful opioid mixture to West African countries.
Indian authorities have taken swift action by banning two highly addictive opioids, tapentadol and carisoprodol, in response to a BBC investigation.
The probe revealed that these opioids were exacerbating a severe public health crisis in West Africa, particularly in Ghana, Nigeria, and Cote D'Ivoire.
The ban was confirmed in a letter by India's Drugs Controller General, Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, stating that permission to manufacture and export the drugs had been withdrawn, BBC reports.
At the centre of the controversy is Aveo Pharmaceuticals, an Indian company accused of illegally exporting the harmful opioid mixture to West African countries. The BBC investigation uncovered that Aveo's products, including Tafrodol, TimmaKing, and Super Royal, contain a potent combination of tapentadol and carisoprodol, which is not approved by any global standards.
This ban marks a significant step in addressing the opioid crisis in West Africa, where millions of young people are struggling with addiction.
In Nigeria alone, it's estimated that over four million people abuse opioids, with Aveo's products being widely available on the streets.
India's Food and Drug Administration announced that a factory in Mumbai had been raided and its entire stock seized.
In a circular dated Friday, Dr. Raghuvanshi cited a BBC investigation as the reason for his decision to impose an immediate ban on all combinations of tapentadol and carisoprodol.
He explained that the ban followed an assessment of "the potential for drug abuse and its harmful impact on the population."
Tapentadol is a potent opioid, while carisoprodol is a muscle relaxant known for its addictive properties, leading to its ban in Europe. Although carisoprodol is approved for short-term use of up to three weeks in the US, withdrawal symptoms can include anxiety, insomnia, and hallucinations.
The combination of these two drugs is not licensed for use anywhere in the world due to the risk of breathing difficulties, seizures, and potentially fatal overdoses.
Despite these dangers, the drugs are popular as street substances in many West African countries because they are inexpensive and easily accessible.
Inside the raided warehouse, piles of cardboard boxes and large plastic-wrapped packages were stacked to the ceiling.
Public export records reveal that Aveo Pharmaceuticals, along with its sister company Westfin International, has shipped millions of these tablets to Ghana and other West African nations.
The BBC World Service also discovered packets of these pills bearing the Aveo logo being sold on the streets of Nigeria and in towns and cities across Ivory Coast.
As part of its investigation, the BBC deployed an undercover operative posing as an African businessman seeking to supply opioids to Nigeria. The operative visited one of Aveo's factories in India and secretly filmed Vinod Sharma, a director at Aveo, showcasing the same dangerous products found for sale across West Africa.
In secretly recorded footage, Vinod Sharma admitted that Aveo's cocktail drug was "very harmful," remarking, "this is business."
During the conversation, the undercover operative informed Sharma of plans to sell the pills to teenagers in Nigeria, saying, "they all love this product."
Sharma responded with "OK" and explained that taking two or three pills at once allows users to "relax" and agreed that the pills can make them "high."
Near the end of the meeting, Sharma reiterated, "This is very harmful for the health," before again commenting, "nowadays, this is business."
Neither Sharma nor Aveo Pharmaceuticals responded to requests for comment following the publication of the BBC's initial investigation.
India's Food and Drug Administration has taken swift action against Aveo, seizing the company's entire stock and halting production following a sting operation.
The agency announced on Friday that further legal action will be taken against the company. Moreover, the administration emphasized its commitment to tackling illegal activities that harm the country's reputation, stating it is "fully prepared" to take action against those involved.