COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (Diya TV) — To combat an escalating drug crisis, Sri Lankan authorities have apprehended tens of thousands of individuals in a month long crackdown on narcotics, despite United Nations criticism of potential human rights violations.
Since the operation’s commencement in December, heavily armed police and military personnel, accompanied by sniffer dogs, have conducted regular nighttime raids on homes and buses, successfully seizing narcotics and apprehending suspects ranging from drug users to local dealers, distributors, and individuals with prior drug-related arrests.
Acting police chief Deshabandu Tennakoon informed The Associated Press that over 40,000 individuals have been arrested and questioned in operations jointly conducted by the police and security forces. Additionally, 5,000 have been ordered detained by the courts.
With a population of 21 million, Sri Lanka has long been recognized as a hub for drug trafficking. Authorities have intensified their efforts against narcotics in response to mounting complaints about the increasing use of drugs among schoolchildren and a surge in drug-related crimes.
Tennakoon disclosed that 65% of Sri Lanka’s narcotics distribution network has been dismantled in the past month, with the police aiming for complete eradication by the end of this month. Intelligence operations are underway to identify those importing drugs into the country and potential drug dealers.
Last week, the U.N. Human Rights Council expressed concern over reports of unauthorized searches, arbitrary arrests, torture, and strip searches in public during the operations, codenamed “yukthiya,” or justice. The council emphasized that while drug use poses a serious societal challenge, a heavy-handed law enforcement approach is not the solution, advocating for a focus on public health and social issues.
Public Security Minister Tiran Alles, undeterred by international criticism, declared that the searches will persist. He urged the human rights body to specify instances of abuse, emphasizing the operation’s positive impact on the nation’s children and women, garnering widespread support from the general public.
Tennakoon reassured that the police have been instructed to adhere to the law, and any violations can be reported to the police commission.
Shakya Nanayakkara, head of the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board, revealed alarming statistics, stating that around 100,000 individuals in Sri Lanka are known heroin addicts, with an additional 50,000 addicted to methamphetamines.
