Security Agencies Seize Chinese Shipment of Banned Chemicals Destined for Pakistan

Authorities intercepted a Chinese consignment of Ortho-Chloro Benzylidene Malononitrile, a tear gas and riot control agent, at Tamil Nadu's Kattupalli Port. The shipment, intended for Pakistan, raises concerns about potential military use. The interception revealed violations of international regulations and underscores China's involvement in aiding Pakistan's defense capabilities.

Security agencies have intercepted a shipment of banned chemicals from China, apparently meant for Pakistan's biological and chemical warfare program, at a port in Tamil Nadu, officials reported on Thursday. The shipment, containing Ortho-Chloro Benzylidene Malononitrile, also known as CS and used as a tear gas, was seized by Customs authorities at Kattupalli Port.

The seized consignment, totaling 2560 kg, was shipped from Chengdu Shichen Trading Co. Ltd. in China and was intended for Rohail Enterprises, a Pakistani defense supplier. Stored in 103 drums, the cargo departed from Shanghai on April 18, 2024, and arrived in Tamil Nadu on May 08, 2024.

Investigations revealed that the chemical is listed under the Wassenaar Arrangement, an international arms control regime, to which neither Pakistan nor China are signatories. The consignment was detained under India's Customs Act and the Weapons of Mass Destruction and Delivery Systems Act, citing potential military use amid ongoing conflicts in Pakistan. The incident highlights China's continued assistance to Pakistan's defense projects, suggesting a complex proliferation network that threatens regional and global security.