Ozone depleting gases find way from US markets

Even as there is strict international regulation on the trade in ozone depleting substances, consignments of CFC gases, apparently from the US, are being smuggled into Bangalore to be sold to local industries. This has come to light after Customs officers intercepted a lorry coming from Kolkata in February and recovered 140 cylinders (14 kg each) of ‘Monochloro Di-Fluoro Methane’, an ozone depleting substance.

Sources said the cylinders appeared to be of US origin as they had US Federal markings. The gases were smuggled in from Bangladesh across the land border.

The gas is used by the refrigeration and shipping industry. The Kolkata authorities had also made a similar raid on a consignment of CFC gases a few weeks before the Bangalore seizure on February 24.