Countrywide drug bust:7, 300 youths arrested

A total of 7,300 young people, below the age of 21, had been arrested on suspicion since the launch of the nationwide ‘Ratama Ekata’ anti-drug operation, DIG in charge of the Police Narcotics Bureau, Ashoka Dharmasena, told The Island yesterday. DIG Dharmasena said the suspects included about 150 females under the age of 21. He added that more than 214,000 suspects had been taken into custody since the commencement of the national anti-narcotics operation. The operation was launched with the primary objectives of disrupting the supply of narcotics across the country, reducing the demand for illegal drugs and rehabilitating those addicted to narcotic substances, he said. DIG Dharmasena said law enforcement authorities had so far seized more than 15,000 kilogrammes of narcotics, including cannabis, during the ongoing operation. He also noted that police had achieved considerable success in intercepting narcotics smuggled into the country by sea, contributing significantly to efforts to curb the illicit drug trade. The Police Narcotics Bureau said the nationwide operation would continue as part of the government’s broader strategy to dismantle drug trafficking networks and minimise the social impact of narcotics. by Norman Palihawadane