A groundbreaking BBC investigation has exposed a sprawling drug trafficking network originating in India that is smuggling unlicensed, counterfeit pharmaceuticals into West Africa, with major operations impacting countries such as Ghana and Nigeria. The illicit network, described as a cabal by sources familiar with the case, is bypassing local regulatory frameworks and flooding the market with opioids, which has significantly intensified the region’s opioid crisis.
Officials across West Africa report a disturbing rise in opioid abuse and overdose incidents, as these unregulated drugs undermine efforts to control addiction and secure public health.
The investigation details how traffickers leverage covert shipping routes and sophisticated smuggling methods to move shipments from India into West African markets. 
Law enforcement agencies in the region are calling for heightened international cooperation—particularly with Indian regulatory bodies—to dismantle the network and prevent further public health fallout.
The BBC report underscores the urgent need for coordinated action against cross-border trafficking, highlighting that this crisis not only devastates communities but also poses broader implications for global drug control and public safety.
See how the BBC exposed the Indian drug trafficking network that is driving the opioid crisis in West Africa.
