Sri Lanka to increase surveillance of southern coast to counter narcotics trafficking

 





The Navy with assistance from the Coast Guard and Police intercepted 219.8 Kg of Heroin being smuggled in from the Polwathumodara coast, in Weligama on Sunday (13 June) morning. Eleven suspects have been held by the Police with PNB conducting further investigations. Pic by SLN



By Asiri Fernando


The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and law enforcement authorities plan to expand surveillance along the southern coast as 219.8 Kg of Heroin was intercepted off Weligama, in the South of Sri Lanka on Sunday (13 June) morning.  

According to Police Spokesman DIG Ajith Rohana, the Police were seeking a seven-day detention order to hold 11 suspects involved in the narcotics trafficking incident under the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Act.


One of the Heroin packets found concealed in a 14.5Kg LPG Cylinder - Pic SLN

"There have been several attempts to smuggle narcotics in from the Weligama coast, therefore we believe Weligama to be a key entry and distribution point for narcotics. The Police, Coast Guard and Navy will increase surveillance and keep a close watch on this southern coast strip"DIG Rohana stated.

The drugs were intercepted in the early hours yesterday morning near the coastal area of Polwathumodara, Weligama by the Navy with assistance from the Coast Guard and the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB). Nine suspects were detained by the Navy while they were smuggling the Heroin ashore to a beach in Polwathumodara from a local multi-day fishing vessel using a dinghy. Two other suspects were taken into custody in relation to the incident from Polwathumodara.

"The consignment had been concealed in sacks and gas cylinders when the apprehension was made," the Navy said, estimating the street value of the narcotics to be Rs. 1758 million. According to the Navy, the trawler used for smuggling had left the Kottegoda fisheries harbour, in Matara on 11th May in the guise of fishing. "We suspect that the consignment was transferred aboard the local trawler by another vessel in deep sea," a senior Navy officer told Daily FT.

The eleven suspects held concerning the incident are residents of Weligama, Ahangama, Dikwella, Kottegoda, Ihalawatta, Mirissa, Polwathumodara and Piliyandala. According to the Navy, they are between 26 to 43 years of age.

The Sri Lankan Multi-day fishing vessel that was used in the trafficking operation. Pic - SLN

The Police suspect that the trafficking attempt was coordinated by a known trafficker based in Dubai and used Heroin from Afghanistan which was loaded onto a Dhow off the Pakistani - Iranian coast. The PNB will continue further investigations. The suspects were produced before a Magistrate Court yesterday.

According to Navy sources, from February 2020 -to-date, the SLN has intercepted 10 trafficking attempts (including the one last Sunday, 13 June) taking into custody 65 suspects (including 32 foreign nationals), 1040.4 Kgs of Heroin, 1017.9 Kgs of Methamphetamine (also known as ICE), 581 Kg of Ketamine and 88 Kg of Hashish. Most of the intercepts were made beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ, 200Nm range) South-Southwest of Galle City. 

Earlier this year, three Sri Lankan fishing vessels were intercepted by the Indian Coast Guard off the Lakshadweep coast with narcotics, a small number of assault rifles and ammunition onboard. The trafficking of arms is taken seriously by both India and Sri Lanka. Both counties work closely, sharing intelligence on trafficking attempts. 

The trafficking efforts off Lakshadweep and in the seas deep south of Sri Lanka are interesting, as they may signify attempts to find alternative routes into the Indian Ocean than the "Southern route" which originates from the Makran Coast, a senior naval officer told Defence Asia on terms of anonymity. 


END

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