Drug abuse rising among Anti-Narcotic officers: Survey

 

A significant number of police officers and security forces personnel are addicted to drugs, a recent survey conducted by the Police Narcotics Bureau has found.

Dr Manoj Jinadasa, Head of the Mass Communication Department at the University of Kelaniya who led the survey, stated that many officers became addicted due to frequent random testing of drugs, including heroin, ice, crush, cocaine, hashish, and Kerala cannabis.

The survey pointed out that there was no significant use of local cannabis.

The survey also found that family members of some police and security force personnel are involved in drug use, with certain families reportedly linked to drug trafficking networks.

Based on these findings, Dr Jinadasa recommended that the government initiate immediate rehabilitation of affected individuals through the Ministry of Defense.

He also noted that the second phase of the survey is scheduled to begin in February.

Responding to the findings, Police Media Spokesperson Assistant Superintendent F.U. Wutler said officers are periodically transferred from the Narcotics Bureau to prevent prolonged exposure to drug-related work.

He added that a police intelligence team has been deployed to investigate information involving over 100 officers in drug-related misconduct.

In recent weeks, media reports indicated that a separate probe into the assets of more than 400 officers of the Police Narcotics Bureau is underway, following claims that some corrupt officers have amassed wealth through connections with large-scale drug traffickers.

As part of these investigations, five Sub-Inspectors have already been transferred, and inquiries are ongoing under the supervision of IGP Priyantha Weerasuriya to remove corrupt officers and recruit new personnel.

Investigators have examined the assets of 20 officers so far, with the assessment of all remaining officers in progress. Reports suggest that some long-serving officers maintained close ties with traffickers, passing confidential information and compromising the bureau’s operations.

Additionally, it has been revealed that outsiders accessed the VMS data system of the Narcotics Bureau to track multi-day fishing boats carrying drug shipments.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has launched a thorough investigation into these breaches. A total of 57 outsiders were found to have accessed the system, and it appears that a group of recently removed corrupt officers deleted highly confidential information from the bureau’s computer systems.

A separate investigation into the deletion of critical data is also underway, as authorities aim to restore integrity and transparency within the Police Narcotics Bureau.