Monday, October 26, 2009

DEC arrests I.T.R Pharmaceuticals proprietor

DEC arrests I.T.R Pharmaceuticals proprietor
By Chibaula Silwamba
Mon 26 Oct. 2009, 04:01 CAT

THE Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested Lusaka’s I.T.R Pharmaceuticals proprietor Ramaschandra Patel for illegally importing 50 kilograms of Ephedrine, a highly controlled precursor chemical sometimes used in manufacturing stimulant drugs.

DEC spokesperson John Nyawali confirmed yesterday that Patel was arrested together with I.T.R Pharmaceuticals technologist Duwa Banda.

“Others arrested in connection with the contraband is a managing director of a clearing agency, Flobo Tradeconsult Limited, Weihelm Schulzs and Samson Nyirenda, a Lusaka businessman.

The Ephedrine which was imported from Thailand using a fake importation licence was intercepted from the Lusaka International Airport in collaboration with Zambia Revenue Authority,” stated Nyawali in a media statement. “Ephedrine is a highly controlled precursor chemical which in some cases has been used to illegally manufacture stimulant drugs whose abuse has become extensive in the world.”

Nyawali further stated that DEC had arrested a housewife of Chaisa compound in Lusaka for trafficking in 106 bundles of mirra.

“Fatima Abdi, a Somali national, was arrested together with Gray Simuwelu at a checkpoint in Kabangwe area. All the suspects are detained in police custody and will appear in court soon,” stated Nyawali.

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1 Comments:

At 6:12 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dec 2009, ITR Pharmaceuticals charges were dismissed. The court found the Pharm Tech, Duwa Banda, guilty of aligations who had bought ephedrine without the knowledge of the owners.

Mr. Patel and Mr. Weilhelm were found innocent and released in Dec 2009. DEC had the evidence all along but detained everyone including the clearance Flobo agent. There needs to be a law to protect company and owners from false accusations.

 

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