India Halts Aveo Pharmaceuticals Over Illegal Opioid Exports to West Africa

The Indian government shuts down Aveo Pharmaceuticals following a BBC investigation linking the company to unapproved drug exports fueling a crisis in West Africa.

The Indian Union Health Ministry has ceased operations at Aveo Pharmaceuticals after uncovering illegal exports of unapproved drug combinations containing tapentadol and carisoprodol to West Africa.
A joint audit by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) and Maharashtra's State Regulatory Authority led to the seizure of 1.3 crore tablets and 26 batches of raw materials.
The BBC investigation revealed Aveo's director admitting the harmful effects of the drugs, which are widely abused in West African nations like Ghana and Nigeria, causing severe health risks.
Indian authorities have revoked export and manufacturing licenses for the drug combination and updated export regulations to prevent future illegal practices.
Aveo Pharmaceuticals denies the allegations, claiming adherence to regulations and alleging counterfeit products bearing their branding were involved in the controversy.