The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has blacklisted Aveo Pharmaceuticals Pvt Limited, an Indian company, for the alleged production and illegal importation of dangerous opioid combinations into West Africa, including Nigeria.
In a statement released on Friday, NAFDAC, under the leadership of Director General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, accused Aveo Pharmaceuticals of manufacturing and distributing two highly hazardous drugs, Tafrodol and Royal 225. These drugs contain a dangerous mix of Tapentadol, a potent opioid, and Carisoprodol, a banned muscle relaxant.
NAFDAC emphasized the severe health risks posed by these substances, including respiratory failure, seizures, overdose, and death.
“The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has officially blacklisted Aveo Pharmaceuticals Pvt Limited, an Indian company implicated in the illegal production and exportation of highly dangerous opioid combinations into West Africa, including Nigeria,” the statement read.
An investigation by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) uncovered that these drugs, branded with Aveo Pharmaceuticals’ logo, had been found on the streets of Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Further findings also revealed that Aveo Pharmaceuticals was involved in the illegal exportation of high-dose Tramadol above 100mg, a dosage not registered or approved by NAFDAC. Undercover footage showed Vinod Sharma, the company’s manager, admitting to distributing these opioids for abuse across West Africa.
In response to these alarming findings, NAFDAC has taken swift action to blacklist Aveo Pharmaceuticals and prevent any future registration of its products in Nigeria.
The agency reiterated its commitment to safeguarding public health by adhering to international pharmaceutical standards, which include strict product registration, Good Manufacturing Practice inspections, post-marketing surveillance, and pre-shipment checks for high-risk imports.
