By Sarah Hannan
Police raids on beach parties and Facebook (FB) parties have increased over the past few months and authorities indicate that there is a growing trend among the youths in the use of synthetic drugs such as ecstasy, methamphetamine (ice), amphetamine, LSD (acid), and pharmaceuticals.
The Sunday Morning contacted the Sri Lanka Police to determine the prevalence of synthetic drug use in Sri Lanka and was informed that friends networks built through social media platforms are influencing the youths to try out these substances.
“Social media platforms are an easy way of networking and most of these drug dealers add youngsters to their network of friends and organise parties for them. From the FB parties we have been raiding, we observed that the kids pay an entrance fee of about Rs. 3,000 and instead of the ticket, they are given synthetic drugs,” Police sources revealed.
In 2019 alone, the amount of synthetic drugs that were seized by the Police had amounted to 41 kilos, 570 capsules, and 275,000 tablets with 2,244 persons arrested under 2,236 cases.
The most recent incident was reported when the Police Narcotics Bureau at the Central Mail Exchange had detected 500 g of methamphetamine (ice) that was cleverly concealed in a galvanised pipe that had been sent via post from Mexico to Sri Lanka. The Police estimated that the consignment was worth approximately Rs. 7.5 million.
Police sources further revealed how narcotics were being smuggled into Sri Lanka and that they had identified countries of origin or transit from which the narcotics are shipped.
“75% of the narcotics are peddled through illegal sea routes, while 25% of it is brought into the country through postal services, airports, and harbours. While the Prison Department has already arrested 15 big-time narcotic traders of the country, they are still operating their business from the prison premises. We have narrowed down the investors to be based in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Dubai,” Police sources revealed.
Illegal sea routes
Explaining the process of trafficking narcotics, the Police informed The Sunday Morning that traffickers operate from Afghanistan and Pakistan, and that the handler, who is in Sri Lanka, would place calls to them to make orders for shipments. The trafficker gets in touch with the carrier who is based in Iran, who then transfers the narcotic consignments via multiday trawlers through international waters.
“Several fishing boats from Sri Lanka will meet the carrier mid-sea and transfer the packages to their boats, which are then brought to land and transported through vehicles inland. The Sri Lanka Navy supports us in apprehending these boats and in confiscating the narcotics,” Police sources stated.
According to the observations made by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)’s World Drug Report 2019, there has been a drop in opiate trafficking from Afghanistan, due to the increase of seizures by local and international law enforcement as well as the shift in demand to synthetics in destination markets.
Meanwhile, the authorities in Sri Lanka too observed a reduction in narcotics arriving from Iran through international waters, owing to the ongoing political dispute between Iran and the US and US maritime security teams deployed in the international waters of the Indian Ocean, Police sources explained.
Sri Lanka, a transit point
Given that Sri Lanka is situated amidst the illegal trafficking routes, we inquired whether Sri Lanka acts as a transit country for the drug trade. Responding to that, Sri Lanka Police sources informed us that they have observed that khat, a plant-based narcotic, is smuggled from Kenya and Ethiopia to Sri Lanka, where it is then laced with tea and reshipped to Europe.
Apart from that, Sri Lanka is also used as a transit point to ship pharmaceuticals such as Tramadol. While the prescription drug’s recommended dosage is 50 mg per tablet, the Police, with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Customs at the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, were able to seize a shipment that arrived from India that was en route to Libya in which the tablets were of the dosage of 225 mg. According to the Police, the consignment of 1.5 million 225 mg Tramadol tablets was packaged in infant diapers to avoid detection.
Preventive measures
When contacted, an officer at the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) stated that the complaints and information that they receive regarding narcotics and illicit liquor from their 1984 hotline are recorded and directed via fax to the 44 police divisions in Sri Lanka.
“The Officer In Charge for each division then updates us on the actions that were taken by their police division. Apart from that, when we receive information of large consignments of narcotics and illicit liquor, we pass that information to the Police Narcotics Bureau and the Walana Anti-corruption Unit,” the officer stated.
Additionally, the NDDCB also overlooks the functions of four treatment and rehabilitation centres in Thalangama, Kandy, Galle, and Nittambuwa which provide residential treatment as well as counselling services to drug dependants.
Meanwhile, the Precursor Control Authority (PCA) which is governed by the NDDCB is established to register and issue licenses for institutions and individuals who purchase precursor chemicals that are used in industries producing paints, dyes, perfumes, cosmetics, medicine, and explosives.
According to the NDDCB, precursor chemicals are also used in the processes of narcotic productions to incorporate drug molecules.
Therefore, the PCA is appointed to monitor any misuse and to ensure the proper transport, distribution, storage, and safe use of the precursor chemicals by authorised industries.
The Police further informed The Sunday Morning that most of these youths hailed from well-off families claiming that their relationships with their parents were not strong. They also added that the parents need to have a good relationship with their children and educate them about the adverse effects of drug use.
Apart from that, the Police too have taken the initiative to conduct awareness workshops, seminars, and exhibitions and stated that in 2019 about 200,000 schoolchildren had attended such workshops along with school teachers. In addition, the Police also conducted seminars at district secretariat offices to create awareness among the staff.
In 2019 alone, the amount of synthetic drugs that were seized by the Police had amounted to 41 kilos, 570 capsules, and 275,000 tablets with 2,244 persons arrested under 2,236 cases.
The most recent incident was reported when the Police Narcotics Bureau at the Central Mail Exchange had detected 500 g of methamphetamine (ice) that was cleverly concealed in a galvanised pipe that had been sent via post from Mexico to Sri Lanka. The Police estimated that the consignment was worth approximately Rs. 7.5 million.
Police sources further revealed how narcotics were being smuggled into Sri Lanka and that they had identified countries of origin or transit from which the narcotics are shipped.
“75% of the narcotics are peddled through illegal sea routes, while 25% of it is brought into the country through postal services, airports, and harbours. While the Prison Department has already arrested 15 big-time narcotic traders of the country, they are still operating their business from the prison premises. We have narrowed down the investors to be based in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Dubai,” Police sources revealed.
Illegal sea routes
Explaining the process of trafficking narcotics, the Police informed The Sunday Morning that traffickers operate from Afghanistan and Pakistan, and that the handler, who is in Sri Lanka, would place calls to them to make orders for shipments. The trafficker gets in touch with the carrier who is based in Iran, who then transfers the narcotic consignments via multiday trawlers through international waters.
“Several fishing boats from Sri Lanka will meet the carrier mid-sea and transfer the packages to their boats, which are then brought to land and transported through vehicles inland. The Sri Lanka Navy supports us in apprehending these boats and in confiscating the narcotics,” Police sources stated.
According to the observations made by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)’s World Drug Report 2019, there has been a drop in opiate trafficking from Afghanistan, due to the increase of seizures by local and international law enforcement as well as the shift in demand to synthetics in destination markets.
Meanwhile, the authorities in Sri Lanka too observed a reduction in narcotics arriving from Iran through international waters, owing to the ongoing political dispute between Iran and the US and US maritime security teams deployed in the international waters of the Indian Ocean, Police sources explained.
Sri Lanka, a transit point
Given that Sri Lanka is situated amidst the illegal trafficking routes, we inquired whether Sri Lanka acts as a transit country for the drug trade. Responding to that, Sri Lanka Police sources informed us that they have observed that khat, a plant-based narcotic, is smuggled from Kenya and Ethiopia to Sri Lanka, where it is then laced with tea and reshipped to Europe.
Apart from that, Sri Lanka is also used as a transit point to ship pharmaceuticals such as Tramadol. While the prescription drug’s recommended dosage is 50 mg per tablet, the Police, with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Customs at the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, were able to seize a shipment that arrived from India that was en route to Libya in which the tablets were of the dosage of 225 mg. According to the Police, the consignment of 1.5 million 225 mg Tramadol tablets was packaged in infant diapers to avoid detection.
Preventive measures
When contacted, an officer at the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) stated that the complaints and information that they receive regarding narcotics and illicit liquor from their 1984 hotline are recorded and directed via fax to the 44 police divisions in Sri Lanka.
“The Officer In Charge for each division then updates us on the actions that were taken by their police division. Apart from that, when we receive information of large consignments of narcotics and illicit liquor, we pass that information to the Police Narcotics Bureau and the Walana Anti-corruption Unit,” the officer stated.
Additionally, the NDDCB also overlooks the functions of four treatment and rehabilitation centres in Thalangama, Kandy, Galle, and Nittambuwa which provide residential treatment as well as counselling services to drug dependants.
Meanwhile, the Precursor Control Authority (PCA) which is governed by the NDDCB is established to register and issue licenses for institutions and individuals who purchase precursor chemicals that are used in industries producing paints, dyes, perfumes, cosmetics, medicine, and explosives.
According to the NDDCB, precursor chemicals are also used in the processes of narcotic productions to incorporate drug molecules.
Therefore, the PCA is appointed to monitor any misuse and to ensure the proper transport, distribution, storage, and safe use of the precursor chemicals by authorised industries.
The Police further informed The Sunday Morning that most of these youths hailed from well-off families claiming that their relationships with their parents were not strong. They also added that the parents need to have a good relationship with their children and educate them about the adverse effects of drug use.
Apart from that, the Police too have taken the initiative to conduct awareness workshops, seminars, and exhibitions and stated that in 2019 about 200,000 schoolchildren had attended such workshops along with school teachers. In addition, the Police also conducted seminars at district secretariat offices to create awareness among the staff.