View source for News:2016-03-03/Report/kerala-ganja-via-the-north-freely-available-in-kalpitiya-puttalam-despite-detections

{{NewsItem
|date=2016-03-03
|category=Report
|title=Kerala ganja via the north freely available in Kalpitiya, Puttalam despite detections
|summary=The Sunday Times reported on expanding Kerala Ganja smuggling routes into Sri Lanka, with the Jaffna Peninsula serving as the primary distribution hub and traffickers increasingly landing product as far south as Kalpitiya and Puttalam on the northwest coast. Navy Spokesman Captain Akram Alavi identified the coastline from islands off the northwest down to Kalpitiya as the main smuggling route, with drugs transferred mid-sea from Indian fishing boats to Sri Lankan vessels. Puttalam Police busted a 21.8 kg network in February 2016 coordinated with an Indian dealer posing as a coconut exporter, with distribution via hired three-wheelers. NDDCB Chairman Prof. Ravindra Fernando noted little difference between local and Kerala cannabis but speculated a shortage of the local variety was driving imports, identifying Tamil Nadu — specifically Rameswaram — as the immediate source. NDDCB data showed cannabis-related arrests more than doubling nationwide from 20,259 in 2010 to 43,683 in 2014, with Western Province (22,590) and Southern Province (4,878) recording the highest totals.
|source=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/160313/news/kerala-ganja-via-the-north-freely-available-in-kalpitiya-puttalam-despite-detections-186347.html
|country=Sri Lanka
}}
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[[Has event date::2016-03-03]]
[[Has event category::Report]]
[[Has event headline::Kerala ganja via the north freely available in Kalpitiya, Puttalam despite detections]]
[[Has event summary::The Sunday Times reported on expanding Kerala Ganja smuggling routes into Sri Lanka, with the Jaffna Peninsula serving as the primary distribution hub and traffickers increasingly landing product as far south as Kalpitiya and Puttalam on the northwest coast. Navy Spokesman Captain Akram Alavi identified the coastline from islands off the northwest down to Kalpitiya as the main smuggling route, with drugs transferred mid-sea from Indian fishing boats to Sri Lankan vessels. Puttalam Police busted a 21.8 kg network in February 2016 coordinated with an Indian dealer posing as a coconut exporter, with distribution via hired three-wheelers. NDDCB Chairman Prof. Ravindra Fernando noted little difference between local and Kerala cannabis but speculated a shortage of the local variety was driving imports, identifying Tamil Nadu — specifically Rameswaram — as the immediate source. NDDCB data showed cannabis-related arrests more than doubling nationwide from 20,259 in 2010 to 43,683 in 2014, with Western Province (22,590) and Southern Province (4,878) recording the highest totals.]]
[[Has source URL::https://www.sundaytimes.lk/160313/news/kerala-ganja-via-the-north-freely-available-in-kalpitiya-puttalam-despite-detections-186347.html]]
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