Indian Ocean navies vow to stop drug trafficking, human smuggling

by Ranil WIJAYAPALA

The Navy Chiefs and representatives from the Indian Ocean region who participated at the maritime symposium and Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the Sri Lanka Navy agreed to have direct contacts with one another to quickly share intelligence and information to prevent the exploitation of the Indian Ocean for drug trafficking and human smuggling.

Navy Commander, Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe told the Sunday Observer that Navy Chiefs from Australia, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Singapore discussed matters relating to the exploitation of the Indian Ocean for human smuggling and drug trafficking.

He said the presence of the SAARC region Navy Chiefs and representatives from other navies from the Asian region at the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the Sri Lanka Navy provided a platform for them to discuss regional maritime security. “Apart from the mechanisms the region is already having to address these issues, they agreed to keep direct contact with one another without going through long procedures of bureaucracy”, the Navy Commander said.

Representatives from regional navies also agreed to respond to emergencies such as disasters wherever they have their resources out at the sea.

“The personal contacts they developed at the Sri Lanka Navy Diamond Jubilee celebrations will help them maintain close interaction”, the Navy Commander said.