The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has taken decisive action by blacklisting Aveo Pharmaceuticals Pvt Limited, an Indian pharmaceutical company, for the dangerous production of addictive pills that pose severe health risks, including death.
The announcement was made by NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, at a press conference in Abuja on Friday. She revealed that Aveo Pharmaceuticals operates from the outskirts of Mumbai, India, and has been producing and exporting harmful pills containing a potent mixture of Tapentadol, a powerful opioid, and Carisoprodol, a banned muscle relaxant with highly addictive properties.
These dangerous pills, sold under the brand names Tafrodol and Royal 225, have been found circulating in Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire. The combination of these substances significantly increases the risk of overdose and death. Prof. Adeyeye also highlighted a BBC World Service investigation that uncovered the circulation of Aveo’s pills, which were marked with the company’s logo and distributed across West Africa.
Further complicating matters, Aveo Pharmaceuticals is also linked to the production of high-dose tramadol, which has been exported to several West African countries, including Nigeria. NAFDAC confirmed that it has never registered any of Aveo’s products, including Tafrodol, Royal 225, or tramadol products exceeding 100mg. The agency has also not approved any product from Aveo Pharmaceuticals.
Citing violations of the NAFDAC Act and the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs Act, NAFDAC has formally blacklisted the company, vowing not to register any of its products in the future. Prof. Adeyeye urged the public to support the agency’s efforts to combat fake and substandard drugs by only using medications prescribed by licensed medical professionals and avoiding unregistered drugs.
In a shocking revelation, an undercover investigation by NAFDAC exposed a secret meeting in which Aveo’s director, Vinod Sharma, admitted to exporting large quantities of the dangerous pills across West Africa, where they are abused as street drugs. The drugs, which are not licensed anywhere in the world, have been linked to life-threatening side effects such as breathing difficulties, seizures, and death. Despite these dangers, the drugs are still popular in the region due to their low cost and widespread availability.
NAFDAC reassured the public that it would continue to take aggressive action to ensure that only safe, effective medicines are available in Nigeria. This includes enforcing Good Manufacturing Practices, conducting rigorous post-marketing surveillance, and performing laboratory testing on registered products.
The agency has also stepped up its efforts to combat the sale of counterfeit drugs in key distribution hubs throughout Nigeria. Prof. Adeyeye emphasized that with strong collaboration between NAFDAC, law enforcement, and the public, Nigeria will become a hostile environment for those seeking to sell and distribute dangerous, substandard drugs.
“NAFDAC remains unwavering in its mission to protect the health and well-being of Nigerians,” she concluded.
