Atlantic Pharmaceuticals Grilled Over Role in Child Deaths Linked to Contaminated Syrups

Bereaved parents and relatives of deceased children © Askanwi

By Fatoumata Jaiteh

Mr Suman, Managing Director of Atlantic Pharmaceuticals, returned to the High Court in Banjul on May 21st and 22nd, 2025, for the continuation of his cross-examination in the ongoing Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) case. The proceedings are being presided over by Justice Ebrima Jaiteh.

During the session, Mr Suman faced intense questioning from Counsel Yassin Senghore, one of the legal representatives for the plaintiffs. Counsel Senghore firmly alleged that Atlantic Pharmaceuticals, in collaboration with India-based Maiden Pharmaceuticals, had imported contaminated syrups that led to the tragic deaths of over 70 children in The Gambia.

The AKI saga took centre stage after approximately 70 children died from allegedly ingesting contaminated medicines manufactured by Maiden Pharmaceuticals in India and imported into the country by Atlantic Pharmaceuticals in The Gambia. Following a parliamentary inquiry in late 2022 and a presidential task force investigation issued in July 2023, two of the Medicines Control Agency’s (MCA) top officials were dismissed, and the government was urged to pursue legal action against the pharmaceutical companies.

However, the government delayed filing lawsuits against the pharmaceutical companies, paving the way for 27 parents of the deceased children to file a lawsuit against both the government and the pharmaceutical companies.

Central to the cross-examination was a document presented by Mr Suman, purportedly a licence from the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued to Maiden Pharmaceuticals. Counsel Senghore questioned the document’s legitimacy, arguing it lacked the official characteristics of a WHO-issued license. She further pointed out that, at the time the syrups were being imported, Maiden Pharmaceuticals’ licence application was still pending review.

Senghore also emphasised that the documents submitted indicated Maiden Pharmaceuticals was not authorised to sell medicines in India. “There is nothing in the documents to suggest that these medicines could legally be sold in India,” she stated.

When pressed on the claim that the syrups were contaminated and responsible for the deaths, Mr Suman denied having any knowledge of the manufacturing process. In response, Counsel Senghore challenged him: “How can you order drugs for children and claim to know nothing about their manufacture or contents?”

She also cited requirements from the Medicines Control Agency (MCA), which mandate that importers demonstrate the efficacy of the drugs they intend to bring into the country. Mr Suman maintained that Atlantic Pharmaceuticals had complied with all MCA regulations. “I believe we have met all the requirements, and they have approved everything we submitted,” he said, asserting that neither the MCA nor the Ministry of Health had ever raised concerns.

Not much is mentioned about Mr Suman in the Presidential Task Force Investigation; however, much has been stated about one MCA Regulatory Officer, Mr Tijan Jallow, who was the Supervising Pharmacist for Atlantic Pharmacy and the proprietor of Lucky Pharmacy at the time of the incident. Even after the outbreak began killing scores of children, Mr Jallow caused an uproar on 31st October 2022, when he suggested that the children died from AKI caused by flooding, in an attempt to deflect the cause of death from the contaminated medicines.

The President’s AKI Investigation Report notes that Mr Jallow was recruited by Mr Sait Kebbeh – then the main contact for Atlantic Pharmacy responsible for Atlantic Pharmaceuticals. The report revealed that Jallow was recruited to assist Kebbeh in the supervision of Atlantic Pharmacy and Lucky Pharmacy. Mr Tijan Jallow tried to distance himself from the drugs, stating that “the four contaminated cough and cold syrups were already cleared for importation by Sait Kebbeh prior to him taking over.”

“Tijan confirmed that the aforementioned cough and cold syrups were not registered by the MCA but rather listed, while a clearance permit was granted for their distribution.” The report did not ascertain who progressed efforts to grant the tainted drugs a clearance permit or whether Mr Tijan Jallow had a hand in it.

The case has been adjourned and is scheduled to resume on June 25th–26th and July 9th, 2025, when the third, fourth, and fifth witnesses for the defence are expected to testify.