Police swoop on synthetic drug dealers

By Jayampathy JAYASINGHE

The Sri Lanka Customs and the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) detected one of the biggest synthetic drug hauls last week. The drug haul worth over Rs. 180 million was seized following the arrest of three Iranian nationals in Colombo when they attempted to smuggle eight kilogrammes of methamphetamine, a potent synthetic drug which is popular among drug addicts who substitute it for the brown sugar variety of heroin.

Following the arrest of two Iranian nationals at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by the Sri Lanka Customs last week, Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) sleuths on a tip off arrested the third Iranian national in a star-class hotel in Colombo Fort who had checked into a room with eight kilogrammes of methamphetamine.

The drugs were neatly concealed in a false bottom of a suitcase, PNB sources told the Sunday Observer. The PNB is investigating whether South Asian drug couriers are using Sri Lanka as a major transshipment point for drug smuggling to Europe. “This was the biggest haul of synthetic drugs detected so far,” PNB sources said.

Smuggling racket

The drug smuggling racket was bared following the arrest of two Iranian nationals at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) who had eight kilogrammes of methamphetamine in their possession on Wednesday. The drug couriers had arrived in the country via Syria on a Qatar flight bound for Sri Lanka accompanying their baggage. Eight kilogrammes of methamphetamine had been packed in polythene bags to avoid scan detections, the Customs said.

PNB officials have launched an investigation to ascertain whether the consignment of methamphetamine was to be transshipped to Europe where a kilogramme fetches over US dollars 80,000, according to the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) reports.

A few years ago the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board presented a proposal to the Attorney General’s Department to amend the existing law with regard to synthetic drugs such as Ecstasy, commonly known as the date rape drug in the west. A survey conducted by several agencies revealed that young persons used such drugs to seduce their female partners at night clubs and karoke clubs.

Babul kiosks raided

A few years ago the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board had contemplated the ban on the import and sale of Babul betel. According to PNB officials students addicted to Babul betel invariably end up as drug addicts. Babul betel imported from South East Asia is now being sold openly by vendors in the vicinities of schools. When a person who gets addicted he or she craves for more powerful drugs such as Marijuana, Heroin and Ecstasy, Health officials said.

The Central Anti Vice Striking Force (CAVSF) conducted several raids on Babul vendors. The Central Anti Striking Force raided several kiosks selling Babul to schoolchildren at Grandpass, Dehiwela, Wellawatte, Bambalapitiya, Kotahena and the Moratuwa areas. Twenty-four vendors were arrested following these raids. Police also stormed into a two storied building at Sea Street, Kotahena and seized 24 kilogrammes of Babul, according to estimates over 1,000 kiosks are situated near schools in Colombo and its suburbs.

Several drug dealers from Dehiwela and Colombo were netted in an operation to flush out drug dealers in 2006. While the operation was on, a number of drug couriers fled to neighbouring countries.

According to the PNB around 237 Sri Lankans involved in drug related offences fled the country during the past few years. Of this number, 213 persons, fled to India, while 21 fled to the Maldives while others fled to Pakistan and Nepal.

A few years ago a Sri Lankan who smuggled drugs to the United Kingdom in mattresses was deported after serving a jail term in the United Kingdom.

Eighty-nine Pakistanis, two Nepalese, one Maldivian and 82 Indians were arrested in Sri Lanka between 1993 and 2006 in connection with drug related offences. The Indian Narcotics Control Board (NCB) with close links to the PNB exchange information with regard to the drug trade.

Heroin smuggling from Sri Lanka to Europe has increased during the past few years. Around 1,200-2,000 kilogrammes of heroin are smuggled to Sri Lanka annually for local consumption.

According to PNB sources heroin addicts have switched to other synthetic drugs as a substitute owing to the scarcity of heroin.

Heroin is smuggled across the Palk Straits by couriers with the help of fishermen who undertake such missions.

Attempts to smuggle large quantities of heroin a few years ago was thwarted due to the naval presence in the northern seas.