DNC busts online drug chemical supplier in Dhaka

Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) arrested a man on allegations of selling raw materials for manufacturing narcotics online.

DNC Deputy Director (Intelligence) Mehedi Hasan confirmed the matter. The arrestee was identified as Md Abdul Momin Patwary, who works as the Information Technology (IT) Manager of e-Chem - an e-commerce platform selling these drug-making precursor chemicals.

DNC filed a case over the incident, naming the owner of the establishment and several others as accused, though the remaining suspects are fugitives. DNC officials seized 500 milliliters of acetic anhydride and one liter of acetone from Niketan, Dhaka. Later, they raided the company’s office on Pragati Sarani, seizing more chemicals and documents.

DNC officials said its intelligence officers first noticed online advertisements promoting the sale of various chemicals. Upon finding information that e-Chem was accepting orders and selling controlled chemicals on its online platform, the officers began verifying the activity.

Several key chemicals with a high risk of being used in drug manufacturing were listed for online sale like ordinary products. To confirm, DNC intelligence officers placed an order for 500 milliliters of acetic anhydride on e-Chem’s online platform.

They added that when accepting the order, the company did not request any required approvals, licenses, or documents regarding the purpose of use for the controlled chemical. Following the order’s acceptance, the company initiated the product delivery.

On 24 August, DNC Dhaka Divisional Intelligence Team conducted a raid when the parcel arrived in Niketan. During the raid, officers seized 500 milliliters of acetic anhydride and one liter of acetone from the parcel.

By questioning the delivery driver who brought the parcel, DNC obtained the location of e-Chem’s office. Then they raided the company’s premises in Pragati Sarani.

At the office, the team detained Momin. They searched and seized more chemicals and sales documents. DNC sources claimed that the company sold these controlled precursor chemicals without properly verifying the buyers’ identities and required permits. They seized a total of six liters of chemical substances during the operation.

DNC officials said while industries commonly use acetic anhydride for general commercial purposes, it carries a high risk of abuse. Criminals can use it to convert morphine into heroin, which is why the government controls its supply and use.

Moreover, officials noted that potassium permanganate is a key ingredient in producing cocaine. Other chemicals like acetone, ethyl ether, hydrochloric acid, methyl ethyl ketone, and toluene also carry major risks of being diverted into illegal drug production processes.

Under Section 2, Subsection (19) of the Narcotics Control Act, 2018, a precursor chemical is defined as any chemical substance essential for the production or processing of Class ‘Ka’ or Class ‘Kha’ narcotics. The schedule of the same Act contains a comprehensive list of these restricted chemicals.