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| Sunday, 14 March 2004 |
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Afghan poppy boom fuels heroin smuggling Crime Sunday by JAYAMPATHY JAYASINGHE The quantum of heroin flowing into Sri Lanka and other South Asian countries has increased after the cessation of hostilities in Afghanistan, where farmers have returned to their lucrative poppy cultivation on a larger scale than ever before. Ousted terror groups like al-Queda and the Taliban are accused of financing farmers in the mountainous region to grow this lucrative cash crop because of the potential of earning easy money. Director, Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB), SSP Pujit Jayasundera said as a result of poppy being re-grown in Afghanistan, the flow of heroin into Sri Lanka could increase in the next few months. The PNB has identified several persons as potential couriers for the trafficking of heroin through the Bandaranaike International Airport. "They have been found to be frequent travellers to Colombo and we are keeping a close tab on their movements," he said. Meanwhile, following the arrest of two persons last week, PNB sleuths seized 506 grams of heroin worth Rs 1.4 million from a residence at Kimbulawela, Mutwal and recovered Rs 545,940 in cash, allegedly proceeds from the sale of heroin. The heroin den police discovered was run by a drug dealer named 'Guna' of Mutwal, wanted in connection with several heroin cases. The suspect has been absconding for several months. Two persons taken into custody are believed to have had links to persons living in the North. Two caches of heroin were also detected at Dehiwela and Wellampitiya. Thirty two grams of heroin worth Rs 85,590 was found at a house at Wellampitiya while five grams of heroin worth Rs 2,700 was found at Dehiwela. Two suspects have been taken into custody. SSP Jayasundera said the laws relating to smuggling and sale of heroin and opium were inadequate as they do not empower courts to confiscate the profits from these ventures. It has been found that drug dealers often plough back their enormous profits into other enterprises to give a cover of legitimacy for their businesses. However, the law does not empower Narcotics Bureau officials to investigate the ill-gotten assets of drug dealers as such matters fall within the purview of the Bribery Commissioner. Although drug dealers are involved in money laundering, there is no provision under the law for narcotics officials to investigate such matters. Such loopholes can be covered by amending the existing drug law, he said. Meanwhile, heroin smuggling from India to Sri Lanka across the Palk Strait has come under the surveillance of both Indian police and PNB officials. Indian authorities overseeing anti-narcotic operations have pledged their support to Sri Lankan authorities to crack down on heroin smuggling across the Palk Strait. This includes sharing of information on heroin smuggling between the two countries. Sixty seven suspects listed by the PNB as big time heroin smugglers have been operating from overseas. Many smugglers arrested by the Chennai police were jailed recently. Last year, 240 kg of heroin was detected at Chennai, which is about 50 per cent of the heroin found in India. Of this amount, only about 10-15 per cent is smuggled to Sri Lanka. The PNB has listed 20 persons as A grade smugglers while 24 have been listed as B grade smugglers. Figures show that 8000 persons were imprisoned in 2001 when compared to 9000 in 1999. In 2000, 8,500 persons were sentenced, compared to 7,820 persons in 1991. This year, police found a parcel containing 13.8 kilos of heroin (brown sugar variety) worth Rs 7.6 million in a bus which arrived from Vavuniya. It has been brought to Colombo by public transport to avoid detection when vehicles are checked by security personnel. Drug traffickers have been using the Palk Strait-Mannar route after the Government ceased hostilities with the LTTE. |
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