Pakistan Customs seized 14 tons of Acetic Anhydride - chemical used for processing of heroin - at Karachi Port on Sunday.
Claiming to be the world's largest seizure of this chemical - more than 11 tons seized in Turkey - the custom authorities were taken by surprise when 70 officials of Anti-Narcotic Force (ANF) arrived at the Pakistan International Container Terminal (PICT) wharf to forcibly take away the detained consignment to ANF Headquarters in Karachi.
According to informed sources, Singaporean flag Vessel 'GITRA BHUM' berthed at KPT on Sunday. Acting on a tip off, the custom officials along with surveyors opened a 15-ton container - declared as Hydrogen peroxide. The first five drums in front in the container, when inspected, did contain Hydrogen Peroxide. However, 70 drums, behind the five - each had 200 kilograms of Acetic Anhydride, the chemical was produced in South Korea.
The detained consignment was kept in the detention yard within PICT on Sunday afternoon and the Chairman, Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) was informed of the seizure by the Chief Collector (South).
The ANF officials in a dozen vehicles came to PICT, pushed the staff on duty aside, took control of a crane and loaded the container on a truck and took it away at 9.00 pm.
When ANF was contacted they claimed that the Acetic Anhydride container was seized by them from the KPT bridge and they had detained one person. The seized container is now in ANF custody in Karachi. PICT representative, however confirmed Pakistan Customs version of events and Pakistan Customs have reportedly informed FBR who in turn have reportedly taken up the issue with the highest authority.