KARACHI: MCC Port Qasim has seized large quantity of dual use precursor acetic anhydride, which is worth $1.0 million.
During the discreet monitoring of the import data, a suspicious consignment comprising of a container said to contain item having a vague description of “Summer fluid’ shipped from Poland bearing address of Peshawar based consignee was identified. The Bill of Lading of the shipment also showed a non-existent PCT Code and an incomplete contact number of the consignee.
Moreover, the address was also very general. Owing to the suspicious declarations, the container was blocked in the system by R&D Section. However no one turned up for clearance. Later on, keeping in view the suspicious nature, physical examination of the consignment was carried out in the presence of terminal representatives and independent surveyors, which led to the recovery of huge quantity of dual use precursor Acetic Anhydride (Quantity 15,520 liters) valuing $1.0 million.
Abdul Rashid Sheikh, Chief Collector Appraisement- South along with other senior officers of the Collectorate inspected the consignment and personally tested the samples thereof on First Defender Kit to verify the detection. The Chief Collector also issued instructions to apply modern IT tools for tracking container trail and latest forensic techniques to apprehend the culprits.
Acetic Anhydride is importable only by authorized industrial consumers and the impugned consignment has been imported in violation of the Import Policy Order 2016. Accordingly, the consignment has been seized under the applicable Laws. The seized goods are being used not only by the drug mafia but also other non-state actors involved in terrorist activities because of its highly explosive nature.
The seizure of huge quantity of Acetic Anhydride is unprecedented in Collectorate’s history and it shows the commitment and resolve of the Pakistan Customs to safeguard society from illegal import of contrabands.
A special team has been constituted under the supervision of Deputy Collector Ihsanullah Shah for further investigation.