MARITIME DRUG TRAFFICKING: FINDING A LASTING SOLUTION
Introduction
Being an island nation situated in one of the most strategically important ocean masses in
the world, Sri Lanka is fortunate in many ways as a country that has a great deal of future potential
to obtain enormous benefits from the ocean.
One of the most important Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOCs) as well as Sea Lanes of
Trade (SLOTs) runs just South of Sri Lanka. Over 200 ships transit our waters, carrying energy
from the Gulf to China, Japan and Korea and empty tankers the other way.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka is fast becoming one of the most leading trans-shipment hubs
in the region for container traffic. This is once again attributed to her strategic positioning in the
Indian Ocean (IO). The potential of the country to further exploit the ocean space for resources is
another aspect we have on our hand, which is again a result of our strategic location in the IO.
The above are some of the advantages of being a maritime nation located in a strategically
important place. It is important to note here that we paid heavily for not paying attention to
maritime affairs in the past. However, we have new challenges now and among them, the emerging
maritime drug trafficking issue has taken the center of discussion. My endeavor here will be to
mainly focus on how the Navy is going to address the maritime drug trafficking issue in accordance
with the national strategy in order to find a lasting solution.
In discussing that, I will focus on the nature of the maritime space around our country to
frame a workable mechanism not just to control drug trafficking but to terminate it. It sure looks
like a challenging task, but we need to win this challenge if the country is to have a better future.
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Inherent challenges of the maritime environment
The post 2009 maritime environment situation of Sri Lanka is quite different when
compared with the situation before. As I always used to highlight, we had a visible enemy out at sea
prior to 2009, but now we do not have a visible enemy out at sea. And this situation does not in any
way mean our seas are safe and secure. Obviously, we do have new challenges. Exploitation of the
maritime space for drug trafficking is one such major challenge.
I am sure most of you have read the book, ‘Seas of Cocaine’ by Ana Lilia Perez. She explores
how and why maritime drug trafficking has become the most common form for Latin American
criminal groups to transit cocaine internationally. Even though she mainly speaks about the Latin
American issue, she states that 70-80 percent of cocaine consumed worldwide is trafficked at some
point via sea. This is a very important finding, and assuming that the percentage is accurate, it
clearly shows that maritime trafficking is deeply integrated into the operations of transnational
drug trafficking not only in Latin American countries but also in other parts of the world.
No navy could place 100% surveillance on each and every square inch of the ocean space.
The vastness of the ocean space is therefore a major challenge for any navy. We have a coastline of
1340 km and an Exclusive Economic Zone that is 8 times the land area and a Search and Rescue
Area that is 27 times the land area. And most likely, we will be vested with an ocean area 24 times
the land area in the future once the claims for delimitation of the outer limits of the continental
margin are finalized.
I have cited a few points as to why it is so difficult to detect a vessel smuggling drugs. These
are the areas that smugglers too focus on. They exactly know what our weaknesses and capitalize
on them. As the UNODC Chief very rightly stated recently, we must take the fight to the traffickers
along maritime routes. If the traffickers are smart enough to outmaneuver us, we surely need to
outmaneuver them at all cost.
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The fishermen’s challenge
In addition to the vastness of the ocean space, the present peaceful maritime environment
has significantly encouraged the local fishermen to venture out to sea in great numbers.
Many restrictions imposed prior to 2009 have been lifted. We have over a 50,000 strong
marine fishing fleet which comprises of over 4,000 offshore fishing vessels and a large number of
various other types of fishing vessels. One of the major methods of trafficking drugs to Sri Lanka is
through these fishing vessels. It is practically impossible to check each and every fishing vessel that
leaves and enter the country.
The entry/exit points to the country are also equally important in arresting this situation.
There are presently 19 fisheries harbours, 10 proposed and one under construction. Close
monitoring of activities taking place in these entry/exit points are very important. In addition to
the above, there are over 70 identified fishing vessel landing sites and 16 anchorages. If one needs
to make sure that fishing vessels do not carry drugs onboard, we have a near impossible task on
hand in checking all these fishing vessels.
The other main concern we have is the Indian trawler poaching issue. The Navy in
particular on a number of occasions has apprehended Indian fishermen trafficking drugs to Sri
Lanka with the help of the local fishermen. When local fishing vessels get mingled with a large
number of Indian trawlers, especially during dark hours, monitoring becomes an impossible task.
Those who are engaged in trafficking drugs via the Palk Strait are well aware of these
conditions and take maximum advantage of them. It is also said that on average, heroin seized in
India destined for Sri Lanka is roughly 2-3 times the quantity of heroin seized in Sri Lanka itself.
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Drug Smuggling: Few important facts
Before looking at the impact of drug smuggling on Sri Lanka, I would like to look into some
of the statistics pertaining to drug smuggling in to Sri Lanka and related aspects. In the recent past,
we have successfully arrested quite a number of drug traffickers out at sea, at our major air ports
and harbours.
We have seen a trend in smuggling drugs to other destinations via our country especially in
the last four to five years. I would like to share some basic data pertaining to the situation with you.
The value of daily drug consumption is estimated to be Rs. 450 million. Records further
indicate that there are around 45,000 drug addicts in our country and these addicts use 763 kg of
heroin per year. It is said that the total heroin smuggled to Sri Lanka is estimated to be around 3.5
tons per year. This is considerably in excess of the requirements of drug-dependent persons in our
country. One major reason to cite Sri Lanka as an emerging drug transit hub is attributed to the
above facts.
It is also said that the authorities apprehend only 10% of the drugs that comes to Sri Lanka.
While the accuracy of this figure is yet to be confirmed, it will be true to say that drugs being
trafficked via the sea routes are extremely difficult to apprehend due to a number of facts that I
have enumerated above.
We are all quite aware of the numerous impacts one could have being a drug addict. So I will
not spend my time in discussing them. My main concern here is the target group. It has always
been largely the youth. As the youth are considered as the future of a nation, targeting them by way
of tactful methods not only destroys the potential of a country, but I see this as a way to drag a
country to one of the lowest levels in terms of its development in a very effective way.
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When the young generation of a country is addicted to drugs, how can that country
progress? This is where the danger is, and this is exactly why we all need to find lasting solutions
to this issue.
What options do we have?
There is only one option I can think of. That is to use all our expertise, connections, and
strategies to eradicate this menace from the world. This would seem unattainable, and that was
exactly what many maritime security experts thought when we fought the LTTE for nearly three
decades. No one believed that we could defeat the LTTE, but we did it. The counter drug trafficking
battle is tougher and more challenging than fighting a visible enemy. But if we have a sound
strategy backed by an effective mechanism, I strongly believe we are capable of achieving our
objectives.
The Sri Lankan President has very strongly committed himself to implement quite a number
of programmes aimed at eradicating the drug menace from our country. The President has in
particular instructed the ministries and various institutions to commit themselves to fulfill the
responsibilities and duties entrusted to them in a perfectly satisfactory manner keeping in line
with the National Policy to create a drug-free Sri Lanka. This is our strategy and the Sri Lanka Navy
in particular has a huge role to play. In achieving the core objectives of the above policy; that is to
eradicate the drug menace from our nation, the following among a range of other aspects will be of
great importance:
Education and awareness
As I have stated above, youth are the main target of the drug dealers. If we can
formulate sound education and awareness programmes especially for the children they will
be able to give a very strong message to the young hearts and minds at a very early stage in
their lives.
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Monitor the maritime domain
We need to pay a higher attention and focus on a wider range of affairs that take
place in our maritime domain. It’s true that we have a huge ocean space to look after with a
quite a few vessels that have the capacity to remain longer durations out at sea. But as the
Commander of the Navy, it is my duty to make sure that I use my resources in the most
effective way to counter drug trafficking. If we could sail thousand miles away from our
shores to destroy the LTTE floating warehouses with a couple of ships that had no capability
to go that far, I don’t think it will be an issue for us to tackle the situation with regard to
maritime drug trafficking.
Sharing real time intelligence
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As searching 50,000 odd fishing vessels by the Navy is impractical by all means, what
we need is timely intelligence. The intelligence network has to be strong that they must not
only be firmly connected to various entities within the country, but also strongly linked to
regional as well as international partners.
Most of the apprehensions we have done over the last couple of years are based on
careful observations of fishing vessels by respective officers who were onboard vessels.
Interceptions made based on real time intelligence have been quite a few. In order to
narrow down our focus, intelligence is important.
Cooperation and coordination
These two words are used quite often when issues of this nature are discussed. No
country in the world is capable of addressing this situation in isolation. You can have the
best vessels, the most advanced technology and real time intelligence, but if one cannot
cooperate and coordinate events in the most effective manner, it is highly unlikely to
achieve an expected goal. Cooperation and coordination at local level as well as regional and
international level are of greater significance.
There is one unique example I can share with you in this very forum to very briefly
explain the success Sri Lanka achieved in controlling the illegal migrants issue to a greater
extent with the help of our friendly nation, Australia. We had all the above mentioned
aspects working in one of the most effective ways one could ever imagine. Just after the end
of the internal conflict, there was a huge illegal migration flow from Sri Lanka to Australia.
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The situation was almost out of control as we could not stop those fishing vessels
leaving our shores with illegal migrants. We had a very close cooperation and coordination
at the strategic level as well as at the tactical level. Real time intelligence was shared
between the two ends on a regular basis and as a result the Navy was able to take the
situation into control within a very few year’s time. This success story has even been cited
as a proven model all over the world in combating the illegal migrant issue.
I think I should mention here the recent successful interception of a small dhow,
smuggling 427 kg of heroin in the Indian Ocean by HMAS Melbourne. In fact, they shared
their experience with us when they were here in Colombo. Such connections go a long way.
Finally, I strongly believe that this is the exact approach we need to adopt in order to
eradicate the drug trafficking menace. We need more partnerships that strive at achieving
tangible results. Obviously we do have quite a number of other issues that go hand in hand
with this. All these issues are required to be closely looked into and dissected if we are to
find a lasting solution.
And I am sure; the experts who are here from various parts of the globe would
contribute through their experiences in formulating a workable mechanism in eradicating
this menace by finding solutions to some of the pressing challenges that affect all of us in
various magnitudes.
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