Beedi leaf smuggling rampant despite detections, need for punitive action

In June this year, the Navy apprehended 1,638 kg of smuggled tendu leaves, and another 881 kg in October. That amounts to over 4.7 tonnes of tendu leaves in four raids alone

By Ajith Perera

Early in December, the Sri Lanka Navy seized 818 kg of smuggled tendu (beedi) leaves in Kalpitiya, as they were being loaded onto vehicles. This is after a further 1,381 kg of tendu leaves were seized again from Kalpitiya in September this year. The goods had been brought into the country aboard fishing vessels from India across the Palk Strait, which is a hotbed for smuggling of goods and humans. 

In June this year, the Navy apprehended 1,638 kg of smuggled tendu leaves, and another 881 kg in October. That amounts to over 4.7 tonnes of tendu leaves in four raids alone. Further detections over the course of the year have yielded well over five more tonnes of beedi leaves being smuggled into the country, which points to focused, rigorous interest and activity in Sri Lanka’s beedi trade, which often tends to disappear under the radar.  

Every measure must be taken to curb such activity with serious punishment meted out to offenders to serve as deterrents

With over 3,000 beedi sticks rolled out of 1 kg of tendu, these 10 tonnes of leaves would have churned out 30 million sticks into the market. Had these stocks reached their intended beneficiaries, Sri Lankan smokers would have burnt Rs. 180 million on beedi yielding no tax or other income to Government whatsoever; except heaping further burden on public health expenditure. 

The beedi industry is spread far and wide all over Sri Lanka. For instance, those apprehended by authorities whilst taking delivery of these smuggled goods hail from Matara, Matale, Puttalam, Naula, Thalawila, Galewela and Colombo – amply demonstrating the spread of the trade, which was once perceived a cottage industry. The beedi trade is a cottage industry no more, it is a burgeoning organised trade engaged in smuggling, perverting our system of justice, health, safety and revenue. 

The Sri Lanka Navy together with the Police Narcotics Bureau and the Special Task Force must be applauded for their unstinted commitment and action to apprehended smugglers of beedi and other illegal goods. However, the continued thrust of smugglers to sail their illegal wares across the strait despite early detections suggest there is constant effort with some degree of success.

Every measure must be taken to curb such activity with serious punishment meted out to offenders to serve as deterrents. It would be useful for the State to invest in advanced technology to significantly strengthen counter-measures to combat smuggling across the strait and our ports of entry. Every detection and arrest are a step towards reinforcing our territorial integrity, security and public health.  The Government also needs to focus more attention on the beedi industry and determine its modalities and reach. Over 400 licenses have been issued for the manufacture of beedi, and not everyone is engaged in smuggling. 

There is no tax levied on the production or sale of beedi, merely a meagre cess on the import of tendu leaf. It is evident that certain producers are even bent on not honouring this trivial commitment, due to the lure of significant profits which escape our eyes. 

(The writer is a retired Administration, Shipping and Maritime Security Consultant in Sri Lanka and the Middle East.)