Strategy of the Drug Supply Reduction

The Police Narcotics Bureau being the specialized unit of the Sri Lanka Police in curbing the drug menace, it performs its duties in two ways. Firstly it considers as a priority to reduce the supply by stringent measures of drug law enforcement targeting major drug traffickers. In this scenario the PNB closely liaises with all out Station Police and the Customs, the Excise and the Prisons of Sri Lanka in molding them by means of training in legislations pertain to drug law enforcement and the prevailing drug trends. Apart from this, the PNB also liaises directly with the Hon. Attorney General’s Department, Govt. Analyst’s Department and with the Judiciary, to expedite the formalities warranted by legislation to be fair with the suspects arrested. The street level drug traffickers are arrested mainly by out station police and the major drug traffickers are arrested by the PNB. Since the drug trafficking is an internationally affected problem, the PNB also liaises with related foreign agencies to expedite investigations. The PNB has expanded its operational ability apart from its Colombo head office and the PNB unit at Bandaranaike International Airport, by opening 05 subs units in identified major cities such as Matara, Galle Gampaha, Chilaw and in Kandy on the instructions of the present IG Police Dr. Mahinda Balasuriya. This expansion of the operational ability of the PNB has paved the way to step up successful drug enforcement operational than before. As a stringent measure on a directive of IG Police, the PNB sphere headed several combined search operations island wide to give an impact to the drug traffickers.

Combined search operation at Badovita, in Dehiwala Police area.

Combined search operation at Obeysekarapura, in Welikada Police area.

Strategy of the Drug Demand Reduction

In conventional parlance it is an accepted fact that drug abusers are patients and they need to be rehabilitated. Sri Lanka too has accepted this fact and brought in new legislation where compulsory treatment is now offered. The PNB apart from its obligation in drug law enforcement concentrates on delivering awareness programmes on evils of drugs to the society. In practicing this aspect the PNB approaches as a priority the youths and the school children in making them understand the true values of not being drug abusers as potential future leaders of the nation. As a result of this the youth and the senior students have taken leadership roles in educating the masses of their respective neighborhoods.  The PNB also addresses the senior citizens and other stake holders of the society educating them the responsibilities they have towards monitoring the society to identify the depth of drug abuse level and the route causes for same. 

Drug awareness programme addressed to Prison inmates.