News:1973-09-18/Report/us-embassy-colombo-cable-reports-150-tons-annual-ganja-production-details-nascent-narcotics-enforcement

18 September 1973

Report

Sri Lanka·

US Embassy Colombo cable reports 150 tons annual ganja production, details nascent narcotics enforcement

A classified US Embassy Colombo telegram (No. 2330, Priority) to the State Department provided the most detailed early external assessment of Sri Lanka's narcotics situation. The cable estimated 150 tons of illicit ganja production annually — "a reasonable estimate" that "exceeds local usage including that for ayurvedic medicine" — raising strong suspicion of cannabis exports. Opium entering from India across the Palk Straits was estimated at 5–15 tons annually. Major seizures included 271 four-gallon tins of hashish oil near Ratnapura in June and 14 pounds of opium near Velvettiturai in August. The cable reported the Police Narcotics Division had been established in April 1973 with a "small enthusiastic staff" but "insufficient budgetary and administrative support." The National Narcotics Advisory Board was created on 13 September 1973, chaired by the Deputy Minister of Defence and Foreign Affairs. Colombo Plan drug abuse advisor Pio Abarro (Philippine attorney) had arrived in August, recommending strengthened anti-narcotics laws as the first priority. US assistance included DEA training literature, narcotics identification kits, and proposed equipment totalling $6,000–10,000. The embassy assessed: "Having other urgent problems, GSL has been willing to live with narcotics problem in Sri Lanka as it has been perceived, that is, large amount of traditional usage of ganja, small local consumption of opium, and unknown quantity of opium trans-shipped through Sri Lanka into international traffic."

Source: https://aad.archives.gov/aad/createpdf?rid=46212&dt=2474&dl=1345

1973-09-18 Report US Embassy Colombo cable reports 150 tons annual ganja production, details nascent narcotics enforcement A classified US Embassy Colombo telegram (No. 2330, Priority) to the State Department provided the most detailed early external assessment of Sri Lanka's narcotics situation. The cable estimated 150 tons of illicit ganja production annually — "a reasonable estimate" that "exceeds local usage including that for ayurvedic medicine" — raising strong suspicion of cannabis exports. Opium entering from India across the Palk Straits was estimated at 5–15 tons annually. Major seizures included 271 four-gallon tins of hashish oil near Ratnapura in June and 14 pounds of opium near Velvettiturai in August. The cable reported the Police Narcotics Division had been established in April 1973 with a "small enthusiastic staff" but "insufficient budgetary and administrative support." The National Narcotics Advisory Board was created on 13 September 1973, chaired by the Deputy Minister of Defence and Foreign Affairs. Colombo Plan drug abuse advisor Pio Abarro (Philippine attorney) had arrived in August, recommending strengthened anti-narcotics laws as the first priority. US assistance included DEA training literature, narcotics identification kits, and proposed equipment totalling $6,000–10,000. The embassy assessed: "Having other urgent problems, GSL has been willing to live with narcotics problem in Sri Lanka as it has been perceived, that is, large amount of traditional usage of ganja, small local consumption of opium, and unknown quantity of opium trans-shipped through Sri Lanka into international traffic." https://aad.archives.gov/aad/createpdf?rid=46212&dt=2474&dl=1345