Indian drug cartels flood Africa with deadly narcotics

India’s involvement in global drug smuggling has reached alarming levels, putting millions of lives at risk, according to a recent report by Deutsche Welle (DW), 24NewsHD TV Channel reported on Sunday.

 The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has identified India as a major hub for illicit drugs and chemicals, supplying narcotics from Myanmar to Central America and Africa.

A recent BBC report has further exposed the illegal opium trade originating from India, stating that it is fueling public health crises and destroying countless lives worldwide.

Africa Flooded with Indian Smuggled Drugs
According to Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), authorities seized over $100 million worth of illegal opium from India in 2023. Nigerian officials also confiscated large quantities of Tramadol—an opioid drug used for illicit purposes—smuggled from India, the BBC reported.

Currently, more than four million Nigerians are addicted to Indian-supplied opium, making it one of the most severe drug crises in the region. Officials warn that opioid drugs originating from India have become a significant problem in Nigeria, despite a government-imposed ban on Indian opioid imports since 2018.

Authorities revealed that Indian-made opium is smuggled into Ghana and later transported to Nigeria. The Ghanaian city of Tamale has been particularly affected, becoming a hotspot for Indian-supplied drugs, the BBC stated.

Renowned journalist Yahya Masood reported that these narcotics are destroying families and harming the nation’s most talented individuals. He warned that opioids can cause respiratory issues, seizures, and even death in high doses.

One of the most dangerous opioids, "Trafadol," a Made-in-India drug, is being distributed by small-scale traffickers in Ghana. According to experts, a single injection of "Trafadol" can be fatal.

The BBC report also exposed that Indian pharmaceutical companies, such as Aveo, are producing these highly addictive opioids, including "Taima King," "Trafadol," and "Tramadol". Aveo’s Director, Vinod Sharma, admitted that Indian authorities are complicit in the drug smuggling network.

Nigerian journalists have accused Indian officials of turning a blind eye to the illegal drug trade in Africa, as they themselves are reportedly involved in the operations.

The Indian drug trade has become a billion-dollar industry, generating massive profits while devastating lives across multiple continents.