The investigation officer of the case for the cocaine seizure incident could not seize the cocaine laden drums and collect sample again due to non-cooperation from the customs authority yesterday (Monday).
As the investigation officer could not show any seizure list regarding the cocaine seizure on Sunday before the court, the court directed the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) and Chittagong customs authority to help the investigation officer (IO) to seize the cocaine and to prepare the seizure list, said court sources.
As per the directive of the court, investigation officer of the case Md Kamaruzzaman, assistant commissioner of the Detective Branch (DB) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police visited the Chittagong port around 11am.
Kamrazzaman alleged that he could not seize the cocaine-laden container and could not collect the cocaine for non-cooperation of the customs officials waiting till 3pm.
Under the circumstances, the investigation officer yesterday (Monday) appeared before the court seeking the further directive regarding the issue.
Kamrazzaman also said that the officials of Customs came to the spot; however after some time they left the spot without any cooperation to size the container.
When contacted, Ashraful Islam, joint commissioner (jetty), Chittagong Customs, told The Independent, “This allegation is untrue. We were in the spot. They were being late to bring the letter regarding the seizure of the container.”
“As they did not give any letter to my commissioner, we went to discuss the matter with him (commissioner); however, returning the from commissioner’s room we witnessed that they had gone away. On the other hand, the container was seized by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation directorate,” added Ashraf.
“However, we are ready to help them, ” said Asharf. Earlier, On June 28, a case was lodged by Osman Gani, sub-inspector of Bandar Police Station under the Narcotics Control Act accusing Nur Mohammad, chairman and Golam Mostafa Sohel, manager of Khanjahan Ali Limited. Golam Mostafa Sohel was the manager of Prime Hatchery, a sister concern of the company.
On June 6, getting information from INTERPOL that in a container, cocaine was imported from Bolivia, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate in the presence of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, Chittagong Port Authority sealed off the container with 107 drums of edible oil.
On June 8, the suspected container was opened and the eligible oil was examined by officials of the Narcotics Control Department.
However, the department did not find any existence of cocaine in their field level test. So, the sample of the edible oil was sent to Dhaka for further test.
On June 27, Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate informed that cocaine was traced in a drum weighing 185 kg. A court in Chittagong on June 30 placed Golam Mostafa Sohel, manager of Khan Jahan Ali Limited, on a five-day remand in the case for seizure of a consignment of cocaine at Chittagong port.