Indian pharma firms linked to export of powerful opioids fuelling West Africa drug crisis

NEW DELHI, May 14 — Indian pharmaceutical firms are exporting millions of dollars’ worth of powerful opioids to west Africa despite a promised crackdown, an AFP investigation found Thursday, with officials saying they are driving a deadly drugs epidemic across the region.

AFP was able to match high-strength tapentadol tablets seized in at least four west African countries with Indian export records through their makers’ licence numbers.

Researchers say the pills are now being added to the “zombie drug” kush, which has been declared a national emergency in Liberia and Sierra Leone. 

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