KARACHI: Customs Preventive Additional Collector Headquarters Khalid Hussain Jamali has said that the Port Control Unit of the Customs Preventive, Custom House, Karachi, has made history by seizing 21.7 metric tons of acetic anhydride from an import consignment mis-declared to contain acetic acid glacial.
Talking to Customs Today exclusively, the additional collector said that the shipment had come from Tanzania, which is a non-producing country for the commodity i.e. acetic acid glacial. Secondly the shipment was lying at the NLC Container Terminal and the address of the consignee was for Sialkot. Preliminary background checks revealed that the consignee company seems to be inconsistent with the business, in addition to the fact the consignor is also a Cashew Nut Company in Tanzania which too does not corresponds to the business and commodity.
Spotting of exact consignment in the yard, its examination professionally with the available tools and onsite verification of the mis-declaration are the basic fundamentals leading to this seizure. The Data Base of International Narcotics Control Board signifies this seizure as the biggest ever reported in their online system at any border control point by any law enforcement agency including Customs.
The social impact of this seizure is huge. It is used in the manufacture of heroin one of the deadliest and costliest drugs which is big issue not in terms of its monetary impact but this trafficking is used in funding of organized crime groups all across the globe. This includes terrorism in its various forms and definition. This chemical is also used in the manufacture of IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices), this also goes towards a landmark seizure which has saved so many innocent lives.
This success is highlighted and applauded by the international partners viz UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) INCB (International Narcotics Control Board) WCO (World Customs Organization) as well as working partners and donors like NCA (National Crime Agency) of UK and HLS (Home Land Security) of the US government. The staff who achieved this land mark had shown exemplary skills and professionalism towards their duty which is extraordinary.
