QUETTA, April 28: The Collectorate Customs, Quetta, has denied the contents of a news report about release of betel nut consignments from Quetta dry port, which appeared in the April 26 issue of Dawn.

According to a press release issue by the assistant collector during the current calender year no consignment of betel nuts has been released by the Quetta collectorate.

According to the press release, four consignments of betel nuts were imported via Karachi for clearance at the Quetta dry port. Samples were sent to HEJ laboratory in Karachi to find out if the contents were fit for human consumption. Of the four samples, the laboratory sent report of one consignment, saying it was unfit. Test results of the remaining three consignments are awaited. All the four consignments have been detained by the Quetta customs.