The Customs Special Intelligence and Investigation Branch (SIIB-Export), Mumbai Zone-III, has arrested the director of a pharmaceutical company and a customs broker director for allegedly attempting to export a controlled substance to the Czech Republic without obtaining the mandatory authorization from narcotics authorities.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Venkat Shinde, director of Veeprho Laboratories Private Limited, and Chandrashekhar Sriram Chodankar, director of customs brokerage firm Rocraft Shipping and Logistics Pvt Ltd. Customs officials alleged that the duo was involved in facilitating the export of a regulated chemical substance without securing the required No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the competent narcotics authorities.
According to the investigation, the export consignment was declared as containing phenylacetic acid and its salts, substances categorized as controlled chemicals under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Regulation of Controlled Substances) Order, 2013. Authorities stated that the export of such substances requires prior authorization and regulatory clearance because of their potential use in the illicit manufacture of narcotic and psychotropic substances.
Customs officials alleged that the consignment was intended for export to the Czech Republic and that the mandatory NOC from narcotics authorities had not been obtained before the shipment was processed. Following the detection of the alleged violation, SIIB-Export officers initiated an inquiry and subsequently arrested both individuals in connection with the case.
The arrests form part of ongoing efforts by customs authorities to prevent the unauthorized movement of controlled chemicals and curb their possible diversion for illegal drug manufacturing activities. Authorities have been closely monitoring exports of regulated substances that fall under the ambit of the NDPS regulatory framework.
According to a recent media report in The Times of India, customs investigators alleged that the pharmaceutical company director and the customs broker director attempted to facilitate the export of the controlled substance without the requisite clearance from narcotics authorities. The report stated that the case pertains to the export of phenylacetic acid and its salts to the Czech Republic, for which the mandatory authorization had not been secured.
Further investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the export attempt and whether additional regulatory violations were involved in the transaction. Customs authorities have not ruled out further action based on the findings of the ongoing probe.
