Investigator seeks court order to gather liquid cocaine evidence at Chittagong port

The police officer investigating the liquid cocaine haul at Chittagong port has sought a court order to collect evidence.

Detective Branch Assistant Commissioner (North) Md Kamruzzaman submitted a petition to Chittagong Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court on Monday afternoon.

Earlier, Kamruzzaman made a futile effort to collect evidence from the port area.

He told bdnews24.com: “We went to collect evidence. Customs people also came there but we did not find them later. Collection of evidence was not possible as all the parties were not present.”

Chittagong Customs Commissioner Hossain Ahmed, however, denied allegation of his absence.

He told bdnews24.com evidence collection would have to be done through a process.

“They (police) sent us a letter. I sent people from my office to them after I received the letter but found they were gone.

“One needs to give us necessary time to gather the people,” he added.

The commissioner said police could collect evidence anytime they wished. “But the 107 drums will remain here (port). These are the rules.”

File Photo

Chittagong Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Farid Alam expressed his resentment over samples being sent for chemical tests without following legal procedure.

He described as ‘inconsistent’ the lack of a seizure list and absence of smuggling-related clauses in the case.

The court said evidence had to be collected and a seizure list prepared in presence of the officials who were present during sample collection and container sealing.

The Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation has arrested four people for their suspected involvement in the smuggling of cocaine under the guise of edible oil import.

They are readymade garment exporter Mondol Group’s Commercial Executive Md Atiqur Rahman, COSCO Bangladesh Shipping Lines Ltd Manager (Corporate Sales and Marketing) AKM Azad, Prime Hatchery Manager Golam Mostafa Sohel and one Mostafa Kamal.

The CII had sealed the container at the NCT yard of the port on June 7 based on an intelligence report.

A case was filed with Bandar Police Station under Narcotics Control Act, naming two persons, over the drug haul.

Port officials said the container imported from Bolivia was shipped to Uruguay’s capital Montevideo and it arrived in Chittagong on May 12 via Singapore.