The ever increasing narcotic drug trades across borders, have raised concerns 
globally. Making matters worse, quite a number of these drugs are being brought in to the country as many foreign companies believe that the Colombo Port is a ‘safe transit point’.
On the other hand, the local drug network keeps expanding as many drug lords and their peddlers have found alternative avenues to distribute their stuff, even victimising schoolchildren and parents. Taking this matter on a serious note, the DAILY MIRROR spoke to the Director of the Presidential Task Force on Drug Prevention (PTFDP) Dr. Samantha Kumara Kithalawaarachchi and a few other individuals.
“Most addicts get their stuff online:”
Dr. Kithalawaarachchi
Q How is the progress of the PTFDP?
The Presidential Task force for Drug Prevention was established to eradicate this ongoing issue about the import, export and usage of drugs. In common terms, drugs could be categorised as either alcohol, tobacco or other drugs such as heroin or cocaine.
There are three institutions involved in controlling the usage and the distribution of these other drugs including the Excise Department, the Dangerous Drug Control Board and the Sri Lanka National Anti-Narcotics Association (SLANA).
But even with all of these institutions there is a huge problem with regard to the usage and the distribution of dangerous drugs. According to the research done by the World Health Organisation (WHO) the health impact of using alcohol and tobacco is close to Rs. 212 billion, while the purchasing cost of alcohol and tobacco for the last year has been Rs. 112 billion.
So, we could see how the economy gains by selling alcohol and tobacco. When we talk about drugs like cocaine, they are being imported to Sri Lanka mainly because the Colombo Port is considered as a safe transit point. After they reach our Port they are re-exported to Europe.
Q Recently the Sri Lanka Customs seized about 250 kg of cocaine. How is the support extended by this department?
The Customs carries out a method known as green channelling and red channelling. If a company has a good rapport with the Customs, that is, if they have been registered and have been sending shipments over a period of time in most instances they are likely to be ‘green channelled.’
So, the sugar company through which these drugs had come was registered at the Customs for some time. But because these officials received a tip-off they did a search.
Q It has been a known fact that drugs are being consumed by youth in events and at night clubs. Has anything been done to stop this usage?
This has increased over the years.
They now even have the habit of using drugs which come in the form of tablets. Why we cannot control this is because they order these drugs via internet and they come in tiny envelopes. They reach the buyers through express logistics companies and this is difficult to be traced.
Q What should be done in order to trace these kinds of transactions?
I think the Intelligence Services have a huge role to play. The officers need to broaden their level of investigations in order to control these practices.
Q It was learned that there are close to 50,000 heroin addicts in Sri Lanka. Isn’t this one of the major concerns that should be targeted right now?
It is true. But right now what we should do is concentrate on this matter at the grass-roots level. It is not a problem about drug consignments coming in to the country. It is about local distributors. There are people who would take four to five packets of drugs in their pockets and sell one at around Rs. 500 to Rs. 600 or even more and cover up their daily expenses. The person who is going to buy from these dealers is not a problem as long as the stuff is sold for a higher price.
We have to focus on getting hold of these people and rehabilitating them. Therefore, more people have to volunteer and we need the support from the forces in order to catch the people from the drug-lords to the dealers.
Q What should be done in future to control this menace?
We should focus on establishing intelligence units and training people to be involved in raids. Also, we have to spread awareness among parents because the youth are prone to use these drugs.
For a country like ours this could be something new but eventually the youth will be involved.
The Presidential Task Force is doing a great deal of work in trying to identify distributors while rehabilitating drug addicts. The media also has a big role to play in spreading awareness.
whom to inform?
If anybody knew of such individuals who are either drug addicts or dealers, they can inform the PTFDP or call 119 and inform the Police Anti-Narcotics Division.
Or write to the Director, Presidential Task Force on Drug Prevention, President’s Office, Colombo 1.
Difficult to check all cargo daily: Dharmasena Kahandawa
Speaking to the DAILY MIRROR, Customs Spokesman Dharmasena Kahandawa said that the Customs had installed a risk analysis system to monitor the incoming cargo.
We do what is called Green and Red Channelling to check the risk of whatever is brought in. This also depends on the export destination as well. We consider the valuation, quality, quantity and certain other features before passing it on to another destination or inland. We have four objectives, which are law enforcement, border protection, social protection and trade facilitation. It is difficult to check all the cargo that is coming in to the country. There are around 10,000 containers coming in to the Colombo Port daily and it is not an easy task.
President requests military assistance: Karunasena 
Hettiarachchi
In his comments to the DAILY MIRROR, Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi said that the Sri Lanka Navy was managing the borders and once they apprehend the suspects they would be handed to the Police.
Also the Air Force is involved in surveying the country on possible areas of the cultivation of cannabis. President Maithripala Sirisena himself has directed the military to support the Police in getting hold of the dealers, distributors and others involved in the drug business
Statistics
According to the statistics recorded by the Police Narcotics Bureau, around 134 kilograms (kg) of heroin has been seized between January and June 2016, while 95 kg of cannabis had been seized during the same period.
Compared to 2015, there has been a massive increase in the quantity of heroin that has been seized until June this year.
Some of the main drugs brought to the country and are distributed include heroin, cannabis, hashish and cocaine.
So far 111 people have also been arrested for cases of heroin while 12 people have been arrested for cases of cannabis. The graphs show the statistics in detail.
