Agencies Target Drug Smuggling Route from Nepal to Sri Lanka via India

Increased Vigilance on Drug Trafficking

New Delhi, March 7: Authorities are intensifying scrutiny on the drug smuggling route from Nepal to Sri Lanka that passes through India. This route, which had seen a lull, is now being exploited for trafficking Hashish oil and Charas.

A coordinated operation led by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) units from Chennai and Hyderabad has resulted in the confiscation of narcotics valued at approximately Rs 10 crore.

This initiative is part of the government's campaign, ‘Nasha Mukth Bharat,’ aimed at combating drug abuse.

Officials have noted a significant demand for Hashish in Sri Lanka, alongside Charas, as the nation grapples with a rising number of drug-related cases.

The surge in drug demand has prompted narcotic cartels to increase their supply to the island nation.

Strategically located in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka serves as a crucial transit point for drug smuggling. Reports indicate that narcotics are not solely sourced from Nepal; drugs originating from Afghanistan's Golden Crescent are also trafficked through Pakistan and Iran.

Smugglers have established South India as a key transit hub, with drugs typically arriving at Thoothukudi or Koddikarai.

A network of individuals facilitates the transfer of consignments to their Sri Lankan associates at designated meeting points.

These landing sites have a long history of operation, previously used for smuggling opium, with Sri Lankan smugglers exchanging goods for beedis.

NCB officials have pinpointed Trincomalee, Halle, and Colombo as significant entry and exit points for these operations.

The value of this illicit trade has escalated dramatically. In the past, authorities would uncover two cases every few months, but in 2024 alone, Sri Lanka reported 35,000 drug busts.

Moreover, the range of drugs being trafficked has expanded beyond Marijuana, Hashish, and Charas, with a notable increase in demand for methamphetamine since 2019.

Upon arrival in Sri Lanka, smugglers collaborate with local criminals, fishermen, and organized groups to package and distribute the narcotics throughout the country. Intelligence Bureau officials have observed a marked increase in the use of the Nepal to Sri Lanka route in recent months, attributed to heightened security along the borders with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.

While this route is not new, its current level of activity raises concerns.

Indian agencies are working closely with their counterparts in Nepal and Sri Lanka to combat the narcotics trade.

The Indian Coast Guard is also actively involved in intercepting fishing trawlers departing from South India after the drugs arrive.

One official revealed that a Sri Lankan national is orchestrating the racket from Nepal, coordinating with operatives in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nepal to facilitate the drugs' entry into South India.

This individual has established a network in Tamil Nadu to ensure smooth transportation of drugs into Sri Lankan waters.

The operation is ongoing, with agencies continuously identifying potential vulnerabilities that smugglers exploit to advance their operations.