India's 'Harmless Medicines' Fuel West Africa Opioid Crisis

Millions of Indian-made tapentadol tablets are fueling a deadly opioid epidemic in West Africa, with authorities and researchers noting their addition to the dangerous 'zombie drug' known as kush. These potent pills, which lack regulatory approval worldwide, are easily purchased in street pharmacies and kiosks across the region. Despite New Delhi's stated commitment to curbing the trade, an investigation revealed that Indian pharmaceutical firms continue to supply these high-strength synthetic opioids to West African nations like Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Ghana. Shipment records indicate millions of dollars' worth of tapentadol are exported monthly, even as wealthier nations heavily regulate opioids due to past fatalities. Manufacturers in India are reportedly targeting Africa with these drugs. The lethal combination of tapentadol with kush, a substance notorious for rapidly debilitating users, has been declared a national emergency in Liberia and Sierra Leone, with bodies reportedly collected daily on the streets. Authorities in Sierra Leone reported that 90 percent of patients in rehab centers had used kush mixed with tapentadol or other opioids. Despite India's "zero-tolerance" crackdown declared in February 2025, banning certain combination exports, the trade in pure tapentadol persists. Several Indian companies have been identified through seized pills and export records, with some shipments deceptively labelled as 'Harmless Medicines for Human Consumption'. In Nigeria, officials found no pharmaceutical permit at the importer's address for one company, deeming the imports illegal. The drugs are used not just for recreation but as performance enhancers for strenuous work, and even by criminals and terrorists for courage or as ransom currency. Experts note that consumers in West Africa are often unaware of the dangers, with little regulation to protect them, creating an environment for trafficking networks to exploit.