Security agencies have intercepted another shipment bound for Pakistan, containing internationally banned chemicals used for tear gas and riot control. This consignment was seized at a port in Tamil Nadu, officials reported on Thursday.
Allegations of Offensive Warfare Program
Officials suspect Pakistan is developing an offensive chemical and biological warfare program with the assistance of its close ally, China. The seized chemicals are believed to be a part of this program, raising serious security concerns.
The shipment, sent by Chinese company Chengdu Shichen Trading Co. Ltd, included a significant quantity of the chemical “Ortho-Chloro Benzylidene Malononitrile.” The recipient was identified as Rohail Enterprises, a defense supplier based in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The consignment weighed approximately 2560 kilograms and was packed in 103 drums, each containing 25 kilograms of the chemical.
The chemicals were loaded onto a vessel named Hyundai Shanghai, which sails under the Cyprus flag, at Shanghai Port on April 18, 2024. The ship’s destination was Karachi, Pakistan. However, the vessel made a stop at Kattupalli Port in Tamil Nadu on May 8, 2024. During routine checks, customs authorities detained the consignment.
Upon investigation, experts identified the chemical as Ortho-Chloro Benzylidene Malononitrile, commonly known as CS. This substance is listed under the Wassenaar Arrangement, an international export control regime. While India is a signatory to this arrangement, China and Pakistan are not. The chemical is also listed under India’s export control list ‘SCOMET’ as a controlled substance.
As a result, the chemical consignment was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, and the Weapons of Mass Destruction and Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005. This legal action underscores the seriousness of the violation and the potential threat posed by the shipment.
This incident follows a similar seizure in March at Mumbai’s Nhava Sheva port. Security agencies intercepted a Karachi-bound ship from China carrying dual-use materials linked to Pakistan’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. These repeated incidents highlight ongoing concerns about the transfer of dangerous materials and the potential for their use in offensive programs.
The seizure of these chemicals underscores the need for stringent monitoring of international shipments and the enforcement of export control laws. The involvement of China and Pakistan in such activities raises significant geopolitical and security concerns, necessitating a coordinated international response to prevent the proliferation of dangerous substances and technologies.
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