Busted

Police Narcotics Bureau tracks the growers of the devil's weed:

by Jayampathy Jayasinghe

The thick jungles of Kotathorai - Ethiliwella located 30 kilometres away from Wellawaya-Thannamalvila, is infested with wild beasts such as bear and man eating leopards. It is a rugged terrain, where Police and Excise officials hardly venture into, due to fears of being killed or maimed by muzzle loading trap guns set up by growers of Ganja to keep intruders away.

The thick jungle is a safe haven for Ganja growers due to its inaccessibility. The bountiful harvest of ganja, brings them easy dough. Their livelihood too depend on the crop. Several acres of the jungle have been cultivated with ganja plants, known as Cannabis Sativa in botanical parlance. The thickness of the jungle and lush green landscape gives cover to the plants that rustle in the wind. Few trained Police and Excise men are able to identify the plant.

While Ganja growers were having a field day, the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) sleuths too kept a tab on their activities. They noticed the demand for Ganja sky rocketing due to the scarcity of heroin (brown sugar) in the market. The flow of heroin into the country had been adversely affected due to several drug barons fleeing the country while most traffickers were languishing in jails. The reinforced naval presence in the Palk -Straight too have affected heroin smuggling into the country.

It was against this backdrop when Director, Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) SSP, Sugathadasa decided to raid Ganja Chenas in the Wellayaya police area. Credible information was forthcoming that Ganja growers at Kotathorai- Ehthiliwela were making big money due to the apathy of the local police.

This prompted PNB's Director Sugathadasa to travel all the way to Wellawaya, a distance of about 200 miles) to raid the Ganja Chenas of Kotathorai -Ethiliwela. It was pretty obvious to him that some corrupt Police and Excise officials have turned a blind eye to these activities.

The raid at Kotadorai- Ethiliwela was planned with meticulous precision before information leaked out. The raid was a tremendous success. Ganja growers had cultivated about three and a half acres of jungle with 60,000 Ganja plants.

The raiding party consisted of Director Sugathadasa, 3 police Inspectors, 2 police Sergeants, 6 Constables and 2 drivers who proceeded to Kotadorai-Ethiliwela at Wellawaya. After nearing the chena they stopped their vehicle and proceeded on foot to the chena.

The Policemen were posing as businessmen from Colombo. After arriving at the chena they were shocked to see vast acres of Ganja plants. Before long the policemen confronted a man armed with two loaded guns. While he was being questioned two other suspect at the Chena took to their heels.

Police found 8 kilos and 500 grams of dried Ganja (Cannabis sativa). They also destroyed over 60,000 Ganja plants at the chena. According to SSP Sugathadasa the total value of the Ganja haul was over Rs. 5 million. He said dried Ganja is transported to Colombo by lorries and buses stashed away among vegetables.

The Ganja monopoly is handled by wealthy businessmen who in turn distribute it among their network of drug dealers. The street value of one kilo of dried Ganja is Rs 17,000 in Colombo.

He said opium was not detected during 2006. But the amount of hashish detected was 7 grams and 900 milligrams. The amount of heroin detected by Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) Police stations, Excise and Customs for 2006 was 62 kilos 603 grams and 835 milligrams. The amount of Cannabis detected during the same period was 33,241 kilos, 754 grams 851 milligrams.

Meanwhile there was a drop of heroin in the country due to traffickers from SAARC countries being arrested in Colombo. There were 20 Indians, 24 Maldivians, arrested in 2006. The number of traffickers arrested abroad in SAARC countries were 107 persons. The total number of persons arrested in Sri Lanka were 200 for the year 2006. "There was a drop of 50 percent of heroin due to drug traffickers being sent to jail," said the SSP.

The number of persons arrested for selling and possessing Ganja (Cannabis Sativa) were 48. The amount of Cannabis Sativa detected was 10,360 kilos and 568 grams and 400 milligrams, valued at Rs. 186, 658, 624/00. Death penalty and jail sentences imposed by courts for year the 2006. Death penalty was imposed on a Sri Lankan while 16 persons were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Thirty persons including foreign nationals were given various jail sentences while another twenty five were given suspended sentences. The foreign nationals include Singaporeans, Indians and Pakistanis. The total number of persons convicted by courts for narcotics offenses for 2006 is one hundred and eighty eight (188).

Last Monday a Sri Lankan passenger who arrived from Banglore had 256 grams of heroin (white sugar variety) worth Rs 20 lakhs in his possession. The heroin was concealed in the false bottom of his shoes. The detection was made by Custom officials. The suspect was handed over to the PNB for further investigations.

According to SSP Sugathadasa 240 Sri Lankans are in Indian jails for drug related offenses. "Well known drug King pings like Thelbala and Kimbukla-Ela Guna have fled to India due to fear of being arrested, while Potta Naufer has been sentenced to death" he said.

Last year 8 kilos and 18 grams of heroin ware seized from passengers who attempted to smuggle it into the country from the BIA. The heroin was concealed in the false bottom of suitcases. The PNB Director has vouched to eradicate the heroin menace from the country.

[email protected]