DUSHANBE, April 29, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- A large consignment of precursors that can be used for production of heroin has been detained in Sughd province, according to the Customs Service under the Government of Tajikistan.

Customs officers reportedly found 20 20-liter canisters containing 403.806 kilograms of acetic anhydride while checking Opel-Astra at  the customs control checkpoint in the Jirgazi jamoat of the Isfara district on April 28.

“The preliminary investigation has established that the seized acetic anhydride belongs to Rustam Yusupov from the Bobojonghafurov districts and was illegally transported into the province from neighboring Kyrgyzstan,” the source said.

Acetic anhydride, or ethanoic anhydride, is the simplest isolatable acid anhydride and is a widely used reagent in organic synthesis.  It is a colorless liquid that smells strongly of acetic acid, formed by its reaction with the moisture in the air.

Acetic anhydride is mainly used for acetylations leading to commercially significant materials. Its largest application is for the conversion of cellulose to cellulose acetate, which is a component of photographic film and other coated materials.  Similarly it is used in the production of aspirin, acetylsalicylic acid, which is prepared by the acetylation of salicylic acid.   It is also used as a wood preservative via autoclave impregnation to make a longer lasting timber.