Karachi: The seizure of more than 6.7 million high-dose tramadol tablets at Port Qasim during Ramzan has once again exposed a disturbing reality as despite repeated interceptions of massive consignments, authorities are still unable to identify who is manufacturing these banned formulations within Pakistan
The latest case surfaced on March 16, when customs officials at Port Muhammad Bin Qasim intercepted an export container bound for Ghana after it was flagged by the Risk Management System for inspection.
According to officials, the consignment had been declared as ready-made garments. However, during physical examination at QICT Karachi, authorities discovered cartons of TramaKing 225 mg tablets (tramadol hydrochloride) concealed behind clothing to avoid detection.
A total of 6,720,000 tablets were recovered from the container, weighing over 5,000 kilograms and valued at more than Rs170 million. An FIR was registered against individuals linked to the exporting firms, and an investigation was initiated.
While the seizure itself is significant, officials and experts say the bigger issue remains unanswered.
Over the past few years, Pakistan Customs, Anti Narcotics Force, Excise and Taxation Department and other agencies in Sindh have confiscated billions of high-dose tramadol tablets, particularly 225 mg and 250 mg strengths, which are commonly smuggled to African countries.
Despite these repeated recoveries, authorities have not been able to identify the manufacturers of these formulations, even though their registrations have already been cancelled by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan and no legal exports are allowed.
Health experts say this clearly indicates that production of these high-dose tablets is continuing within the country through illegal channels.
“This is not a small or isolated activity. When you recover millions of tablets in a single shipment and billions over time, it means there is organised manufacturing taking place somewhere,” a senior health official said.
Another concern highlighted by the latest bust is the lack of coordination between regulatory bodies.
Officials at the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan confirmed that they were not taken into confidence regarding the Ramzan seizure and had not received any samples of the recovered tablets for testing.
“We were not formally informed. We came to know about the seizure through informal sources,” a senior DRAP official said. “Without laboratory analysis, it is difficult to determine where and how these drugs are being produced.”
Experts say this gap allows the cycle to continue as shipments are being intercepted, but the source remains untouched.
Tramadol itself is a pain medication and a weak opioid, but high-dose formulations are known for their abuse potential and are widely trafficked to international markets, particularly in parts of Africa.
Investigations in previous cases have shown that smugglers often misdeclare goods, hide medicines inside legitimate consignments and exploit weaknesses in monitoring systems to move these drugs out of the country.
Customs officials said the latest consignment was also misdeclared in an attempt to bypass export regulations. The seized drugs have been taken into custody, and further arrests are expected as the investigation progresses.
However, experts warn that unless authorities move beyond seizures and focus on tracing manufacturing units and supply chains, the problem will persist.
They have called for joint operations involving Customs, DRAP and law enforcement agencies to identify illegal production facilities, monitor raw material supply and hold those responsible accountable.
The continued smuggling of high-dose tramadol, they say, not only reflects regulatory failure but also risks placing Pakistan under increased international scrutiny. For now, the seizures continue but the source of these drugs remains a mystery.
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