Seizure of chemical: ANF refutes Customs’ claim

Anti-Narcotic Force (ANF) has strongly refuted the claim of Pakistan Customs that it was exclusively responsible for the seizure of 14 tons of Acetic Anhydride at Karachi Port on Sunday. The spokesman for ANF told Business Recorder that it was following the movement of this cargo since end January 2008.
Showing evidence of the claim, ANF said the chemical used for processing of heroin was produced in Japan and shipped to South Korea on 26th January, 2008. Acetic acid was off-loaded in Korea on January 28th. It was repacked and booked for Pakistan by Randhwa Traders, 107-802 Samsung Dong, Songho Apartment, Kyunggido Korea upon the receipt of Rs 2.5 million advance against value of Rs 12.5 million to a firm in Hayatabad, Peshawar and shipped to Singapore on MV Bay Bridge on February 1st, 2008.
ANF said it has arrested one Kamran Sikandar with the original bill of lading (number PUSCB 8155172). He is said to be related to a high customs official in Islamabad. Further, the cargo was dispatched to Karachi and upon arrival of the vessel Gitra Bhum-ANF had kept the vessel under surveillance and its intelligence team in civilian clothes was present at the port when the vessel docked and off-loading commenced.
As soon as the container whose number was known to ANF touched the berth - it was surrounded by ANF. ANF further claimed that no examination of cargo was carried out by customs and the sealed cargo was removed from the port to ANF headquarters. And, only on Monday, ANF has drawn samples and sent them to the laboratory for test. ANF suspects that the chemical was destined for Afghanistan where poppy processing labs convert poppy seeds to heroin powder.