In response to rising concerns about imported medicines, Gambia’s police stated on Saturday that they were opening an investigation into the deaths of dozens of children.

Police announced in a statement that they were adding senior officers to the inquiry after 66 children died, the majority of whom suffered from acute kidney failure.

Also read: Maiden Pharma: Indian drugmaker under fire for Gambia deaths

An Indian pharmaceutical company, Maiden Pharma’s cough syrups may be to blame for the deaths, according to the World Health Organization, prompting India to launch an investigation.

According to his office, President Adama Barrow gave the go-ahead for the health authorities “to suspend the licence of the suspected… importer” implicated in the case.

The Indian embassy was to receive a message from the foreign ministry expressing “his government’s most profound concern.”

On Friday, Barrow pledged to strengthen health policies, including tighter quality control over imported medications.

Also read: Gambia recalls India-made cough syrups blamed for 66 child deaths

He vowed that the administration will investigate the situation thoroughly and leave “no stone unturned.”

In light of potential connections between the deaths and four cough and cold syrups produced by Maiden Pharmaceuticals in India, the WHO issued an alert on Wednesday.

According to the WHO, laboratory testing revealed inadequate concentrations of potentially fatal pollutants, and the products may have been sold outside of the West African nation.

On September 23, the Gambian health officials issued a recall order for all medications containing promethazine syrup or paracetamol.

Also read: WHO probing 4 Indian cough syrups likely linked to 66 children’s deaths in Gambia

A number of steps were taken, including the establishment of “a quality control national laboratory for drugs and food safety,” by Barrow, in an effort to prevent catastrophes in the future.

In order to ensure that such occurrences might be regulated and prevented, he also pledged to revise the country’s drug-related regulations.

He complimented the health ministry’s efforts to stop additional deaths.

Only two cases had been detected over the previous two weeks, he claimed, and the outbreak was “now under control.”