A 10-member probe committee of detectives has been formed to investigate into the incident of smuggling of liquid cocaine in sunflower oil drums at Chittagong Port.
The new probe body, headed by Detective Branch of Police Deputy Commissioner Kushum Dewan, was formed on Saturday, five days after the Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation formed another four-member probe body over the cocaine haul.
Chittagong Metropolitan Police Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operations) Debdas Bhattacharya told the Dhaka Tribune: “The new probe body will mainly interrogate the four suspects in the case. The committee members may also launch fresh investigation alongside the police, if required.”
No time frame has yet been mentioned regarding the submission of the report by the probe committee.
Earlier on June 6, the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate stopped a consignment of sunflower oil, suspecting existence of liquid cocaine inside a container at Chittagong port.
Two days later, a special team conducted the physical examination of the container at the port but found no liquid cocaine in it. They then collected samples from the container and sent those to Dhaka for laboratory test.
After conducting a final test on June 27, the officials became certain of the liquid cocaine.
On June 28, police lodged a case against Khan Jahan Ali Group Chairman Nur Mohammad for his company’s connection with the alleged import of liquid cocaine.
The authorities said 185 litres of the contraband item was found in a drum out of a total of 107 in the container.
Port sources said the container was put on board from Uruguay on March 30 after being imported from Bolivia. It arrived at Chittagong port on May 13 and was kept at the port yard as none came to release the container.
The container addressed to Nabi Market in Chittagong’s Khatungonj was imported by Khan Jahan Ali Limited.
A special team of the Detective Branch under Chittagong Metropolitan Police on June 6 detained Nur Mohammad, owner of Khan Jahan Ali Limited, for questioning.
During the interrogation, Nur said his employee Sohel had brought the consignment using the company’s address.
Detectives then nabbed Sohel, who said one of his relatives living in England had imported the consignment through a friend.
A case was lodged against Sohel in this connection and he is now behind bars.
