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Tighter surveillance reduces narcotics flow

by Panduka Senanayake

Increased surveillance by law enforcement authorities has curtailed Narcotics traffic to the island during the past five months.

According to a senior Customs officer, heightened observation at the Bandaranaike International Airport by the Customs and Police drug enforcement officers has led to the reduction of drugs, mainly heroin, being smuggled into the country through the airport.

This reduction is also partially attributed to heightened surveillance by the Indian Customs officials whose activities have been greatly enhanced by the introduction, at Indian airports, of new equipment able to detect traces of heroin.

According to the officer, 340 kilos of heroin bound for Sri Lanka were detected by the Indian Customs last year. This comprised half the total amount of heroin detected in 2002 by the Indians.

According to officials, the surveillance at the airport, with virtual 24 hour observation by Customs Narcotics Division and Police Narcotics Bureau Officers, while curtailing the smuggling by air has led to smugglers seeking other routes to bring in the drugs.

According to information, the old sea route from Tuticorin, India to Thoduwawa on the north west coast of Sri Lanka is now said to have been changed and new routes being established between Rameshwaram and Mannar.

Drug enforcement authorities are now engaged in mapping out strategies to combat the emerging trends adopted by the smugglers.

They include conducting joint operations with the Navy, re-activation of the Customs Marine Division as well as well as other activities including close co-operation and exchange of information between the enforcement authorities of India and Sri Lanka. 

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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