Liquid Cocaine seized for first time in SL history

• Seized drug valued at Rs.13 million  

​By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

Liquid Cocaine or cocaine in the form of a liquid  basis was seized for the first time in the country’s history by Sri Lanka  Customs yesterday. The package had been sent from the United Kingdom to a local  addressee. The liquid cocaine found in a 500ml energy drink  bottle is valued at Rs.13 million.    Sri Lanka Customs Narcotic Control Unit officials made the  detection at the Colombo Cargo Courier yard, where they examined an  unaccompanied personal baggage (UPB) sent to an addressee in  Kiribathgoda.  Customs Spokesman ADG Seevali Arukgoda told the Daily  Mirror, that the officials in the presence of the addressee opened the box to  find 65 grams of Kush and an energy-boosting beverage bottle containing  500 millilitres of liquid cocaine, carefully concealed amongst sweets  and snacks.   

Kush, which has a street value of Rs.5,000 a gram has been  valued at Rs.325,000, whilst the liquid cocaine has been valued at  Rs.25,000 a millilitre.   

Liquid Cocaine is a powerful and hazardous substance that  combines cocaine with alcohol or other liquid bases like water, soda,  wine, and soft drinks and can be taken by mouth, injected or inhaled.   
According to a study by Atlanta Detox Centre liquid form of  cocaine is a highly potent stimulant that could be absorbed into the  bloodstream rapidly affecting the central nervous system.   

Also, due to its form and ability to dissolve with any  liquid, smuggling liquid cocaine has evolved into a sophisticated  trafficking technique by drug traffickers.   

The local address of the suspicious package had been identified as a 23-year-old tourist guide from Ragama area. 

The suspect along with the narcotics had been handed over  to the Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) officials for further  investigations.