Director General, Regional Directorate, Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), Brigadier Abuzar on Saturday termed the existing scanners installed at the country's seaports 'incapable' to detect the drug in export cargoes and sought special detection machines to examine the goods.
Replying to concerns expressed by Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PHMA) members during a meeting at the PHMA House, Brigadier Abuzar said the special scanners were required to detect the drugs concealed in the cargo as the existing such machines were not helping the matter. He said export cargoes were inspected randomly however sometimes on tipoff ANF carried out its operations to examine the doubtful consignments. He assured the exporters that the inspection was always meant just to protect their cargoes not for harassing them.
While giving a presentation he informed "we had received 10 drug-smuggling cases during last year and recovered a huge quantity of hashish and heroin from the cargoes at seaports." Since January 2014, ANF had caught only two drug-smuggling cases, he added. "A huge quantity of drug is produced in Afghanistan which is one of the biggest challenges for Pakistan's smooth export. Elements associated with that business were trying to smuggle drugs to different central Asian countries through Pakistani seaports," he said.
ANF according to its risk management system conducts inspection of exporting containers, as in 2013 the team had inspected some 2.2 percent of country's total annual exports, while remaining 97 percent cargos were not examined, he added. "ANF inspections are crucial for the wasted interest of both country and exporter, because if any smuggled drug was exported and found in the international market like EU and America then it would leave a negative impact on image of the country, adding the company would also be black-listed forever."
He also suggested port operators not to issue one window service; and said exporters should send their clearing agents at seaports at the time of cargo inspection carried out by ANF. "The concerned clearing agent must ensure his presence during the re-packing of exporting products. ANF does not take any fee charges on account of services provided to exporters, however sometime exporters were seen making complaints about clearing agents who are allegedly offering charges on the name of ANF."
He suggested the exporters to keep their eyes open on their lower staff, who was working at seaports, because smugglers might offer them undue money in a bid to smuggle drugs through export cargoes, as such cases happened during recent years. The exporters must not sale their original form-E which can be used for smuggling purpose. As per the law, a person who is involved in smuggling of even 1-kg heroin would be imprisoned for 14 years.
Director Reforms and Automation Custom Department, Abdul Majid Yousfani said the government of Japan had given assurance for providing three drug scanners, which were expected to be installed at Port Qasim, Karachi East Wharf and West Wharf by 2016.
After the availability of the abovementioned scanners, Pakistan would be able to scan 100 percent cargoes of Afghan Transit Trade besides other exports' consignments at seaports properly. Customs with co-operation of Banks Associations is going to introduce a proper mechanism to stop the miss use of E-paper, and the process is now entering in the final stage.