A misguided war on drugs

World Drug Day observed on 26 June aims to educate people about the harmful impact of drug abuse. Sri Lanka too has made news recently for its ‘war on drugs’ that resulted in a range of serious human rights violations and widespread abuses.

The Yukthiya operation launched by the current administration as their vanguard measure in handling the drugs problem has very little to show in the form of success other than the mass arrests. This heavy-handed approach has failed to yield significant results in curbing drug trafficking or usage. Instead, it has overwhelmed the country’s prison system, where the population has surged by 40% since the operation’s inception. This mass incarceration has not only strained resources but has also done little to rehabilitate offenders or reduce recidivism rates.

Statistics starkly reveal the inefficacy of this strategy. Despite the extensive arrests, the availability and use of drugs remain alarmingly high. Methamphetamine seizures increased by 30% from 2022 to 2023, indicating that large-scale traffickers continue their operations unabated.

Under the leadership of the Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera who is also the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force to Combat the Use of Poisonous and Dangerous Drugs, Sri Lanka Navy last week said it had seized around 1000 kg of narcotics valued at over Rs. 15.78 billion during naval operations conducted so far in 2024. In a recent naval operation conducted, the Navy seized about 131 kg of heroin valued at over Rs. 3,250 million. What is however astonishing is that while those who are involved in the smuggling of these narcotics may be apprehended there is no evidence of any of the financiers being brought to justice. The simple question that has to be asked in this instance and others alike is who can finance a single smuggling operation worth over Rs. 3 billion. The names, if received, will most definitely be linked to political and administrative authority.

Compounding the issue is the troubling legitimacy of the officials overseeing Sri Lanka’s ‘war on drugs’. The Minister in charge of the police, who has been at the forefront of advocating for this hardline approach, has his own share of allegations of corruption and abuse of power. Therefore, it is not surprising that the whole Yukthiya operation is seen as a political stunt, carried out by those who lack legitimacy, credibility and integrity, as an image building exercise at the cost of further exacerbating the actual narcotics problem in the country.

It is not surprising that the Yukthiya operation’s focus on mass arrests without addressing the deeper issues of drug trafficking and addiction is fundamentally flawed. This strategy has been widely criticised by both local and international observers, who advocate for a more nuanced and comprehensive approach.

It is essential to call for reforms that prioritise rehabilitation and harm reduction over incarceration, and emphasise the importance of treating drug addiction as a health issue rather than merely a criminal one. If the current administration is genuinely interested in addressing this issue it must shift its focus towards a more effective and humane approach. By investing in prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation, the country can address the drug issue at its roots, rather than merely treating its symptoms. Only then can Sri Lanka hope to make meaningful progress in the fight against drugs.