Mumbai Customs officials have arrested the directors of a pharmaceutical company and a customs brokerage firm for allegedly attempting to export a controlled substance to the Czech Republic without obtaining the mandatory clearance from narcotics authorities. The accused have been identified as Venkat Shinde, director of Veeprho Laboratories Private Limited, and Chandrashekhar Sriram Chodankar, director of Rocraft Shipping and Logistics Pvt Ltd, a customs brokerage company.
According to customs officials, the arrests were made following an investigation into an export consignment destined for the Czech Republic. The shipment was found to contain phenylacetic acid and its salts, substances classified as controlled chemicals under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) framework.
Authorities stated that exporters are required to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the competent narcotics authorities before exporting such controlled substances. However, the accused allegedly attempted to ship the consignment without securing the necessary approval.
Phenylacetic acid is a regulated chemical due to its potential use in the illicit manufacture of narcotic and psychotropic substances. As a result, its production, storage, transportation, and export are closely monitored under the NDPS (Regulation of Controlled Substances) Order, 2013. Customs officials said the consignment was intercepted during scrutiny, leading to further investigation and the subsequent arrests of the two company directors.
The accused have been booked under relevant provisions of the NDPS Act and related regulations governing controlled substances. Further inquiries are underway to determine whether similar violations were committed in the past and whether any additional individuals or entities were involved in the attempted export.
Officials have reiterated the importance of strict compliance with export regulations concerning controlled chemicals, emphasising that such measures are essential to prevent the diversion of substances that can be misused for illegal drug production.
