Investigators of the Chittagong cocaine haul seizure case yesterday collected samples from all 107 drums of the container in which the existence of liquid cocaine was found in a lab test conducted by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID).
The team that collected samples was headed by Chittagong Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch Assistant Commissioner (north) Md Kamruzzaman, also the investigating officer (IO) of the case.
Samples were collected in accordance with a court order, and CMP DB’s Deputy Commissioner Kusum Dewan, Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) representatives, Customs House Chittagong (CHC) officials, CIID officials and Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) officials were present.
On Monday, the IO for the first time went to the port to collect samples but failed as the CIID said the process involved legal hassles. The IO later took the matter to court while the customs authorities also filed a review petition.
On Tuesday, the court ordered to collect samples and seize the container in the presence of CPA, DNC, CIID and CHC representatives.
On June 6, the CIID sealed the container at Chittagong port which was suspected to bring 2,140 kilogrammes of liquid cocaine. The container was boarded on ship from Uruguay after being imported from Bolivia and arrived at Chittagong port on May 13 via Singapore.
In the primary examination of the sealed container on June 8, the existence of cocaine was not found. On June 27, cocaine’s presence was found in one of the drums through further laboratory tests.
On June 28, police lodged a drugs case with Bandar police station in this connection. The CMP DB is investigating the case.
CIID investigators found that the container was on its way to Europe or North America through Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, a team of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime at the request of the CIID is expected to come to Bangladesh soon to determine the actual weight of the cocaine.
The DB has also decided to seek help from Interpol and New Scotland Yard to nab the two expatriates involved in the smuggling of the cocaine.
