Around 245kgs of Ephedrine, a fine quality of heroin worth around Rs 4 billion in the international market, were seized by the Pakistan Customs. This was stated by Muhammad Ali Asad Khan, assistant collector of Customs Headquarters-II at a press conference at Customhouse here on Monday.
According to details, on April 28, 2011, one Customs Export Goods Declaration was referred by the MCC Exports to the DEC/PCU Headquarters of MCC Preventive, for carrying out narcotics search. When the representative of Customs Agent approached the office of DEC/PCU Headquarters for getting the consignment checked for narcotics search the customs documents were thoroughly examined by the Port Control Unit, which has been created under the auspices of World Customs Organisation and UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime).
Study of the shipping documents relating to the consignment apparently had strong risk indicators and further inquiries by the Port Control Unit regarding the exporter, export documents, consignee etc disclosed that it was someone (whose name can not be disclosed due to on going investigation) had given him the documents relevant to export of this shipment of spices to Sydney, Australia.
Upon further examination of documents by the Port Control Unit it was disclosed that the Form "E" has been purchased from open market. These revelations further strengthened the existing risk indicators already judged by the Port Control Unit. Accordingly a team of officers from Port Control Unit and Drug Enforcement Cell headed by the Assistant Collector of Customs Muhammad Ali Asad Khan along with reached P.I.C.T for physical inspection of the container/goods stuffed in container number FCIU-8840424.
The cargo stuffed in cartons was accordingly taken out and it was found having printed marks as "KAUSAR(r)" brand spices. Further examination of these cartons revealed that they consist of Kausar (r) brand Red Chili Powder, Coriander Powder and Biryani Masala.
Since the Port Control Unit had already worked out the risk indicators about the consignment as very high as such some of the cartons were opened on random basis in order to make sure about the contents of these cartons. Owing to the huge number of cartons and type of cargo one of the Chili powder cartons lying at the rear of the container was pierced with the help of metal probe which on return was found carrying white color powder inside it. The white color powder, which came out of the carton, was tested with the help of field narco-test kit, which gave results closer to one of a synthetic drug ie Amphetamine.
It had thus become imperative to de-stuff the entire cargo for carrying out 100 per cent examination as such the container was shifted to PCU/DEC Headquarters at NMB Wharf. All the cartons of Chili Powder, Coriander and Biryani Masala, were ripped open and it was found that all of them contain 36 Packets each weighing 250 grams gross. Since the initial recovery was made from Red Chili Powder packets as such every carton of Chili powder packet was opened one by one in order to recover the contraband stuff concealed therein.
All the Kausar (r) Brand Red Chili powder packets were stuffed with a pouch of foil packing printed with the brand name Kausar (r) and once the aluminum foil pouch was opened some of them were found carrying double packing of transparent polythene packet duly stuffed with white color crystalline powder instead of Red Chili. All such packets of Red Chilies, Kausar (r) Brand were further cut opened in order to recover the white colour crystalline powder. Upon completion of recovery of all the crystalline powder the bulk was weighed which was found to be 245 Kilograms (net).
In order to make sure about the exact description of the recovered material two sealed samples each weighing 10 grams (approximately) were drawn and sealed under the signatures of the above mentioned musheers and the same were sent to Industrial Analytical Center @ H.E.J Research Institute of Chemistry University of Karachi on 30th April, 2011 for test/confirmation, who confirmed the given sample to be Ephedrine.
Upon completion of examination and confirmation of the recovered substance to be Ephedrine weighing 245kgs (net) was accordingly seized along with packing material and all relevant documents. Investigation is in progress while the FIR was lodged in the Court of Special Judge Anti Narcotics, Karachi.
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