The crackdown follows a BBC investigation that exposed an Indian pharmaceutical company’s role in manufacturing and exporting the unapproved and highly addictive combination of these drugs
India’s Drug Controller General has imposed a ban on the production of tapentadol and carisoprodol, two drugs that were being illegally exported to African countries like Ghana and Nigeria, contributing to a public health crisis of opioid addiction, as per The Economic Times report.
The crackdown follows a BBC investigation that exposed an Indian pharmaceutical company’s role in manufacturing and exporting the unapproved and highly addictive combination of these drugs.
According to The Economic Times, tapentadol is a potent opioid used for severe pain relief, while carisoprodol is a muscle relaxant prescribed for acute pain conditions. However, their combination is not approved for use anywhere globally. The BBC sting operation revealed that Mumbai-based Aveo Pharmaceuticals was producing and exporting these drugs under various brand names to West Africa. An official from Aveo Pharma was caught admitting that the company planned to sell the drugs to teenagers in Nigeria as part of its business strategy.
Following this expose, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) issued a directive on February 21, ordering an immediate withdrawal of all export permissions and manufacturing approvals for the combination of tapentadol and carisoprodol. Authorities raised concerns about the drug’s high potential for abuse and its harmful impact on public health, leading to swift regulatory action.
In response, Indian regulatory authorities, along with Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration, have launched an investigation into Aveo Pharmaceuticals and its operations. A senior Maharashtra government official confirmed that while the combination of these drugs is not sold in India, officials have been instructed to inspect pharmaceutical facilities to detect any illegal opioid manufacturing.
The Economic Times said industry insiders speculate that Aveo may have escaped scrutiny because neither tapentadol nor carisoprodol is classified under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. By combining the two, the company likely created a highly addictive drug formulation that remained undetected by regulators.
Meanwhile, the Indian government is taking proactive steps to alert regulatory agencies in African nations about the distribution of these illicit drug combinations. Sources indicate that, beyond West Africa, Aveo Pharma has been exporting medicines to countries such as Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Poland, and Türkiye. With stricter monitoring now in place, authorities are focused on preventing further illegal exports and ensuring stronger enforcement against pharmaceutical companies engaging in such activities.
