Opioid Smuggling

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has revoked the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certification of Aveo Pharmaceuticals, an Indian drug manufacturer, over its alleged role in the illegal distribution of opioid-based medications to West Africa. The move follows a BBC Africa Eye investigation, which uncovered how Aveo Pharmaceuticals, through Westfin International, reportedly exported unapproved drugs containing tapentadol and carisoprodol to Ghana, Nigeria, and Côte d’Ivoire. These substances, classified as highly addictive opioids, pose severe health risks, including respiratory failure and death when misused. In response to the findings, the FDA has directed Samos Pharma, a Ghana-based importer, to sever all…