ECD seizes suspected smuggled agricultural chemicals in Paramaribo, expired stock destroyed
The ECD found possibly smuggled agricultural chemicals at company A.C.A. on Pandit Tilakdharieweg. Expired products have been safely destroyed at multiple locations.
Seizure of possibly smuggled agricultural chemicals at Paramaribo company
The Economic Control Service (ECD) has seized a consignment of agricultural chemicals at company A.C.A. on Pandit Tilakdharieweg in Paramaribo. The products are suspected to have been smuggled into the country, according to De Ware Tijd.
During the inspection, inspectors requested purchase receipts to establish the origin of the chemicals. Those receipts immediately raised suspicion. "The receipts were solely marked with a supplier's stamp and contained no address details," according to the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation (EZ) in a press release. The incomplete labels on the packaging also strengthened the suspicion of smuggling.
At the same company, inspectors also found agricultural chemicals whose expiry date had already passed. Staff from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (LVV), who carried out the inspections together with the ECD, disposed of this consignment safely. The investigation is ongoing.
A similar situation occurred at W. Building Materials, also on Pandit Tilakdharieweg. Expired agricultural chemicals were also found there and safely destroyed by LVV staff. However, based on the purchase receipts, it was established at this company that the products had not been obtained through smuggling.
At two other locations — agricultural shop H. on Henri Fernandesweg and agricultural shop A. on Catharina Sophiastraat — the inspections proceeded without incident. Purchase receipts were reviewed, suppliers identified and smuggling ruled out. The labels of the inspected products proved to be correctly prepared, in both Dutch and English.
Source: De Ware Tijd