A MULTIFACETED STRATEGY TO FIGHT THE UNDERWORLD IN SRI LANKA

The politico-underworld nexus propelling the illicit drug trade has come to the surface for yet another time, after the police seized two containers of substances allegedly used for manufacturing crystal methamphetamine, popularly known by its street name, Ice.

- Ranga Jayasuriya

Police seized a large stock of 'chemical substances' in the estate of a former Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna provincial councillor, Sampath Manamperi of Middeniya, based on information provided by underworld kingpin Backhoe Saman, who was recently extradited from Indonesia and is currently held at Colombo North Crime Division. Sampath has gone into hiding, and police have arrested his brother, Piyal Manamperi. Police have also discovered over 100 kilograms of a suspected substance in a house in Kandana.

However, if the alleged chemical substance, as described by the investigation agencies, is indeed a precursor chemical for methamphetamine production, the alleged haul of 50,000 kg (or 50 tons) would likely be one of the largest single seizures of this kind in the world.

The alleged chemical substance is believed to be destined for a meth lab set up by Kehel baddara Padme alias Mandinu Padmasiri Perera, another underworld kingpin recently extradited from Indonesia. The two containers were reportedly cleared on January 27, this year, and later transported to Middeniya on January 29. The Police Spokesman had hurriedly added that they were not among 323 red-flagged containers released by the Customs in January this year.

Health and Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa has told the media that the two containers had been cleared through the authorised customs process. Customs has launched an internal inquiry to identify lapses in the process, he said, adding that the CID has launched a separate investigation into the matter.

Intriguingly, though, none of the local agencies have revealed what the alleged substances are.