KELUM BANDARA 
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Sri Lanka drugged to the hilt
- Cannabis the predominant drug consumed earlier
- Now it is methamphetamine
- Most illicit drugs, originating overseas, are trafficked into the country via the Arabian Sea
Colombo, June 3 (Daily Mirror) - The geographic location of Sri Lanka has invariably positioned the country as a pivotal conduit in the international drug supply chain, linking the East to the West. Illicit drug use in Sri Lanka indicates a significant shift in consumption patterns from cannabis as the predominant drug consumed, particularly by those residing in urban townships to methamphetamine use, according to a study done by Pathfinder Foundation.
According to the Pathfinder National Security Brief on -Illegal drug trafficking, in Sri Lanka, most illicit drugs, originating overseas, are trafficked into the country via the Arabian Sea. The trafficking operations are notably complex, involving multiple actors: growers, producers, transporters, dealers, and local distributors. Often, the dealers are of Sri Lankan origin who reside in the Gulf region. The suppliers originate from tribal areas in Pakistan, and the transporters or smugglers, typically of Iranian origin, operate across the Indian Ocean. The local distributors, often based along Sri Lanka’s coastal belt, are directly linked to criminal syndicate leaders in the Middle East. In addition to maritime routes, trafficking occurs via container shipping, airline passengers, and postal services, including fast parcels, according to the study.
The organisation calls for the development and implementation of an Effective National Drug Control Strategy. The South Asian region is characterised by a mix of post-conflict, least-developed, and middle-income states, each facing common and unique challenges. Regional cooperation is essential for an effective and coordinated response to the drug problem. A reformed, coordinated, and concentrated effort involving all stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society, academia, and other relevant segments, is imperative for the development and implementation of an effective strategy in combating drug trafficking in the region.
Quoting the National Dangerous Drug Control Board (NDDCB), it says the total number of drug-related arrests in 2023 reached 162,088. Of these arrests, 66,142 (40.8%) were related to heroin, 68,845 (42.2%) to cannabis, and 26,096 (16.1%) to methamphetamine. This marks a 90% increase in drug-related arrests from the 89,321 recorded in 2019. The same report highlights a steady rise in the quantity of drugs seized between 2019 and 2022, with cannabis seizures more than doubling and methamphetamine seizures increasing significantly during that period. Correspondingly, arrests for drug-related offences have also risen in line with the increase in drug seizures during the same timeframe.
A report released by the Research and Trend Analysis Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), based on a survey of opium cultivation and production in Afghanistan, following the ban imposed by the de facto authorities in Afghanistan (DfA) on poppy cultivation and all narcotic substances in April 2022, reveals a dramatic 95% decline in cultivation in 2023. Notably, however, the same research found that, in contrast to opiates, methamphetamine trafficking continues to surge within the region. An analysis of emerging trends and evolving patterns in drug trafficking indicates a significant shift from traditional narcotics to synthetic drugs, such as amphetamine-type stimulants and chemical precursors. In the long term, these developments may result in a change of heroin purity coming into the market, an increase in addiction, particularly among youth and potential demand for opiate treatment facilities, etc.
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