Shocking biggest ever narcotics trafficking
12 December 2016The Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) on Friday (9) busted a cocaine trafficking attempt at the Colombo Port.
In the history of thwarting narcotics trafficking in the island, last Friday's cache was remarkable as Rs 14 billion worth of cocaine weighing 928 kilograms was seized by the PNB. The swift action of the PNB has thwarted the huge cocaine trafficking which was going from Ecuador to India concealed meticulously in 15 polythene sachets wedged between several Teak wood planks in a container marked 'Mediterranean Shipping' in the vessel called Sabula.
The manner the vessel carrying the huge amount of cocaine via Sri Lanka has made one to think whether the trafficking has been taking place making Colombo Port a transit point for a long period.
In recent months similar attempts have been busted at the Orugodawatta container yard and the Friday's cache seems to be the biggest of all so far in the fight against narcotics in the island.
As the island nation has taken steps to stabilize the economy following the end of war in 2009, the shipping activities have also enhanced in a significant way with the Colombo Port turning into a busy destination in South Asia.The shocking incident of the brutal death of a High Court Judge in the hands of a big time drug dealer several years ago in Colombo had highlighted the extent the drug menace has infiltrated into the country.
Several areas in Colombo have been identified as hot spots for drug dealers. The PNB has been successful in busting several drug dealing activities in the island and Friday's action by the bureau has highlighted its ever vigilant state in dealing with drug related issues. With the end of the civil war in the North and the East narcotics and alcohol menaces remain a big threat in the two provinces igniting anti-social activities in a big way.
In the past several years Security Forces and Police have successfully busted Kerala cannabis smuggling activities in the North. Reports reaching from North indicate that Western Coastal areas from Kalpitiya to Mannar remain vulnerable to drug trafficking. A week ago a special Police Post was also set up in Mannar to deal with offshore drug trafficking activities.
Friday's PNB action in seizing 928 Kg of cocaine in Colombo and its arrival from Ecuador in Central America has highlighted the importance of Sri Lanka in the map of the big time drug peddlers. The PNB action has also emphasized the need of adopting hi-tech methods in dealing with offshore drug trafficking activities.
To create a positive climate for their activities the big time drug barons are even capable of manipulating all sorts of dirty tricks in the countries they are targeting. Several countries in Central America and South America as well as in Africa have become failed States due to the manipulations of the drug traffickers.
With Sri Lanka remaining a meeting point for shipping activities between the West and the East, operations against drug trafficking should be modernized with a proper network established internationally as well as regionally.
Apart from the PNB's prompt action against narcotics, Sri Lanka Customs has also busted several meticulously planned attempts to bring drugs into the island. Sri Lanka being an island nation, coastal areas particularly the North-Western and North-Eastern coastal belts remain extremely vulnerable to drug trafficking.
As the PNB has been carrying out a remarkable job in overcoming the drug menace, a well coordinated effort from the tri-forces and the Customs with the PNB along with introducing stringent legal measures will enhance further the activities which will make Sri Lanka a no-nonsense country for drug dealers.
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