Summons says firms sent 168 tonnes of isopropanol, which can be used to make sarin, to SyriaThree Belgian companies are being prosecuted for exporting chemicals to Syria, one of which could be used in the production of sarin gas. Why chemical weapons are a 'red line' the world must enforce | Chris Miller Read moreThe customs investigation into the firms appears to have been initiated by the Dutch authorities. Sarin, which has been banned since the 1993 chemical weapons convention (CWC), is made through a reaction between isopropanol and methylphosphonyl difluoride. A spokesman for the Belgian federal authorities said: “Customs have established infringements of the law concerning the import, export and transit of goods. Also in contacts between AAE Chemie and high customs officers, no one pointed out that something was wrong.

Source: The Guardian April 18, 2018 11:53 UTC