Colombo District worst affected by Synthetic drugs menace

Crystal Methamphetamine, a stimulant drug popularly known as ‘Ice’ was now circulating in the country Colombo was fast becoming the transport hub through which drugs were transported to South East Asia and Australia The drugs are also sold in numerous for

The Western Province and the Colombo District in particular were the most affected areas by new synthetic drugs entering the market, the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) said.

Crystal Methamphetamine, a stimulant drug popularly known as ‘Ice’ was now circulating in the country, a high ranking officer of the Bureau said. Law enforcement authorities now consider the drug to be the biggest threat to the commercial capital.

The source stated that the synthetic drug is often brought to Colombo via Chilaw and Kalpitiya and are often transported through sea routes or air lifted from middle eastern countries such as Iran and Iraq. Colombo was fast becoming the transport hub through which drugs were transported to South East Asia and Australia.

The PNB had nabbed six individuals on five different occasions with 36 grams and 550 milligrams of Methamphetamine and 1,341 tablets weighing 14 grams and 90 milligrams last year.

However, during the past three months officers had taken into custody nine individuals with a collective of about 3.5 Kg of Methamphetamine.

Operations conducted by the Walana Anti-corruption Unit in Panadura had recovered 450 tablets in the last three months.

Law enforcement authorities had found that synthetic drug peddlers were targeting the youth between 16 to 25 years and are currently operating in and around Colombo in various forms.

The use of synthetic drugs was increasing at a considerable speed according to statistics, especially centering beach parties and night clubs.

The drugs are also sold in numerous forms such as pills, stamps and acid, for ease of use. The changing form of the drug has made it harder for officers to track the drug, sources said.

According to National Dangerous Drugs Control Survey over 49,000 drug addicts have been identified in the country and a majority were in the Colombo districts.

Although there are sufficient provisions in the legal system to sentence the drug peddlers, the legal system is yet to introduce laws for synthetic drugs.

According to present law a maximum sentence of life imprisonment can be handed for those taken into custody with over 2 grams of heroin. The situation has prompted law enforcement authorities to launch an anti-drug campaign in over 2,400 schools to discourage youth from the drug. The Western, North-western and Southern Provinces were the most affected by the synthetic drugs, a high ranking officer said.