Crack down on heroin trade - IGP

by L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

Sri Lanka Police Narcotics Bureau together with its Pakistani counterpart will take steps to curb the well organised heroin trade being persued with Sri Lanka as the transit point, IGP Jayantha Wickramaratna told the Sunday Observer, yesterday.

Two Pakistanis and four Sri Lankans were taken into custody with over 4 kg of heroin during the last two weeks in Sri Lanka. Three Pakistani nationals are being interrogated by the Pakistani Narcotics Bureau, he said.

A highly organised network including both Sri Lankans and Pakistanis is held responsible for running the highly lucrative trade on a massive scale.

He said that Afghanistan has become the hub for the flourishing industry with a wider global network."The nexus revolves around Afghanistan, Pakistan and India known as the 'Golden crescent' and is trafficked to Sri Lanka where it is consumed and also marketed to the neighbouring countries such as Maldives and also to Europe, the IGP said.

The recent arrest of a 23-year-old Pakistani youth who had arrived at Katunayaka BIA from Karachci via Abu Dhabi led to the biggest detection of 3 kgs of heroin worth over Rs. 52 million so far made at BIA.

He had left Karachci and arrived at the BIA via Abu Dhabi by UL 208 SriLankan Airline. He has securely wrapped the heroin contained polythene bags around his legs.

Last month two more Pakistanis who attempted to smuggle heroin hidden inside two rods of the hand luggage - were apprehended.

They had 271 g of heroin worth over Rs. one million in their possession. An iron drill and the necessary mechanical items also were in their custody to cut the iron rods of the hand luggage to obtain the heroin from the rods of the luggage.

Their arrest also led to nab five more Sri Lankan drug peddlars who were their partners operating in Kollupitiya, Slave Island and Battaramulla.

According to the Senior DIG Nimal Mediwaka on information received by the Police Narcotics Bureau on August 25 a Sri Lankan peddlar Kulande Jesu Steven of Grandpass was arrested.

His arrest has helped unearth a heroin ring operated by a group of Sri Lankans and Pakistanis from a leading hotel in Kollupitiya. More than Rs. 8 million worth of heroin were recovered from their possession.