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by B. Anton Jeyanathan, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Retired), Sri Lanka Police, Executive Committee Member, Colombo Plan International Society.

Drug addiction: the cancer spreads

Today our beloved country is plagued with many evils. Terrorism, violence, criminal acts, murders, drug trafficking and many other anti-social acts, combinedly and singly are heaping disaster. Year after year efforts have been made to reduce, or eradicate the plague which has been eroding our socio-economic progress and the well-being of the entire society. Lamentably the situation is worsening.

A part of Hymn comes to my mind to describe the prevailing hopeless situation. It goes something to this effect, "Lord if you are looking below, it is worse now than then, cheating and stealing, violence and crime, etc". Perhaps drug abuse too may have to be added to this line.

Today the 26th June being the day the world over commemorates as the UN declared "International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking". I would like to reflect on the situation prevailing in our country, in relation to the drug trafficking situation. From the official publications of both the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) and the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board (NDDCB) it is evident to all and sundry that the situation is nothing to be happy about. The demand for Cannabis (ganja), Heroin (kudu), Cocaine and synthetic drugs such as Amphetamine, Ecstasy and any other stimulant/depressant drugs available for sale is on the increase.

The supply of heroin smuggled from India and Pakistan have shown considerable increase. The quantity of heroin detected by the law enforcement agencies such as the police in particular by the (PNB) and the Customs Department during the last year and this year will bear testimony of the demand and the supply of heroin in our country.

Even in the demand and supply of Cannabis (ganja), there is a trend for more demand. However there is no proper monitoring system prevailing to assess the quantity of the plants being illegally cultivated in our country.

As for the use and availability of synthetic drugs the situation appears to be limited to affluent users who frequent night clubs, discotheques and places of fun and frolic where children of both sexes, hailing from rich parents, who are either financially or politically powerful.

There is also unconfirmed information that some of the students of leading national and International schools too are using such synthetic drugs for their leisure and pleasure. The number of drug dependents (addicts) on heroin, the number of offenders arrested for drug offences, the number of prison admissions for drug offences are multiplying. The increase of all areas of drug abuse and trafficking is burdening the society socially and economically.

The society cannot afford to be mere spectators of the declining situation in and around the city as well as the suburbs. They have to wake up and assess the situation before it gets out of hand. Every member of the society can be a role model in not experimenting or demanding such narcotic drugs. Preventive educational and propaganda against drug use and drug abuse are areas where the members of the society can take an active part in their own areas of residence.

In the fight against drug trafficking and abuse there is no other proven method than preventive measures which had shown successful results.

The propaganda against drug use and abuse is woefully inadequate, through both the print and electronic media. The several channels of television stations must be regularly and continuously made use of with innovatory and attractive propaganda campaigns against drug abuse by the government, the law enforcement agencies and the NGOO.

Law enforcement actions, detections, prosecutions and punishments have not brought in the desired results. Law enforcement alone is not the answer. Law enforcement activities must continue uninterrupted with full force. The targets of the law enforcement officers should be the financiers, the smugglers and the large-scale distributors. In this area too the members of the society can help the law enforcement officers in passing on useful and reliable information of those engaged in Drug Trafficking activities.

In a recent announcement the Director of the PNB had enlightened the society how a colossal amount of Rs. 50 million is utilised per day in Sri Lanka on narcotic drugs. This amount is the wealth of the country which is being drained in destroying our future well-being.

With all the efforts, both by the law enforcement agencies and the NGOO we as a nation had failed to unite and consider this plague as national disaster. Too little is being done to address this problem as a national problem.

Irrespective of party politics, all politicians should declare that they would not support any drug financiers, smugglers or drug traffickers. They should also declare that they will not interfere with the law enforcement agencies and law enforcement officers, if and when any drug dealers are apprehended, on their behalf. A political commitment is a must for any success in the fight against the plague of drug trafficking.

Political Interference can be resisted if the law enforcement officers, especially those engaged in drug law enforcement activities, have the courage and strength to convey to the politicians of any position that the course of existing legal procedures have to be adhered to, irrespective of the connection, political or otherwise, of the suspects arrested.

I am convinced that the political interference will succeed only with law enforcement officers who are ever willing to please the politicians for their own benefit. I am also aware that there are many police officers who have the courage and strength to resist political interference, provided the very senior officers stand by the juniors and protect them from victimisation and harassment from political forces.

Amendments to the existing drug law are urgently required, to meet the challenge of the ever growing number of drug addicts, to rehabilitate them rather than pushing them into prisons. To investigate assets of suspected drug traffickers, declare money laundering as a criminal offence where the appropriate authority could investigate and freeze or confiscate the ill-gotten wealth and many other amendments to rope in the large scale drug traffickers. The Police Department should be geared to meet the challenge irrespective of any Interference from politicians or influential personalities.

The officers of the department must be above any form of corruption. The specialised unit of the Police Department the (PNB) should be upgraded with adequate personnel, vehicles, electronic equipment, incentive allowance for officers to keep them out of corruption, and attractive reward system for informants and officers, promotional prospects and every other support to make the PNB a professional unit.

The Government should consider establishing a combined sea patrol unit consisting of officers of the Customs Department and the officers of the Navy to monitor the coastal areas of Chilaw, Negombo, Wattala, Modera, Beruwala and other suspected areas of smuggling.

The expenditure in the purchase of patrol boats for this combined patrol unit will be worth the spending, compared to the wealth and health of our country which are being wasted and drained out due to the illegal business of drug trafficking.

Let us not be complacent and unconcerned. Before it is too late let there be a national awareness awakeness to the impending disaster.

Let it not be said that too little was done too late, as in the case of many other national problems. Let us extend our support to the drug law enforcement officers, in any possible way to make our beloved land a "Drug Free Land".

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