News:1997-03-03/Report/us-international-narcotics-control-strategy-report-documents-96-4-metric-tons-of-cannabis-seized-amid-ltte-con
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3 March 1997
Report
Sri Lanka·
US International Narcotics Control Strategy Report documents 96.4 metric tons of cannabis seized amid LTTE conflict
The US State Department's International Narcotics Control Strategy Report for 1997 (released March 1998) provided a comprehensive assessment of Sri Lanka's drug situation during the height of the LTTE civil war. Cannabis seizures peaked at 96.4 metric tons in 1996 with 14,794 arrests, declining to 61.8 MT (Jan–Oct 1997) as police personnel were diverted to military operations. A 50-acre cannabis plantation was detected and destroyed in the south in January 1997. The report noted cultivation areas were mostly located in "heavy jungle in southeastern part of island" and police relied primarily on informants. LTTE drug trafficking was "widely believed" but neither the embassy nor the Police Narcotics Bureau had "firm evidence" to support the suspicion. Heroin and hashish transited in "significant quantities," mostly detected at Katunayake International Airport, while 1,100 miles of coastline "cannot be adequately patrolled" with naval forces engaged in the conflict. A comprehensive legislative package drafted by the NDDCB — covering money laundering, asset forfeiture, and extradition — had not been presented to Parliament. US assistance exceeded $12,000 to NDDCB, $2,400 to FONGOADA (Federation of NGOs Against Drug Abuse), and $300,000 to the Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Program.