Post

Bellingcat
@bellingcat.com

India has exported more than 320 million unapproved synthetic opioid pills to West Africa in just three years. Trade data shows over 1,400 shipments of tapentadol — a potent painkiller — were sent to a region already facing an opioid crisis. www.bellingcat.com/news/2026/04...

bellingcat.comPainkiller Pipeline: 300 Million Tapentadol Pills Sent from India to West Africa - bellingcatIndian companies have sent more than 320 million synthetic opioid pills to West Africa – where they have not been approved by regulators – in three years.

92 reposts182 likes

Bellingcat
@bellingcat.com

Our investigation, with Indian publishing partner Newslaundry, found that more than 50% of the painkillers were high-strength (200mg+), doses not even approved for use in India.

Bellingcat
@bellingcat.com

Sierra Leone's president declared a national emergency over drug abuse in 2024 and branded kush – a toxic blend of psychoactive substances including cannabis and synthetic opioids – a "death trap".

Bellingcat
@bellingcat.com

Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority said last year that the abuse of pharmaceutical opioids such as tapentadol — commonly known on the street as “Red” — was on the rise.