The geographical situation of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean and being a convenient transit port to the ‘Golden Triangle and Golden Crescent’ the Drug Mafia has focused on us. Today narcotic drugs are smuggled into Sri Lanka not only for the addicts in the country but also in transit to other countries linking Europe and Asia.
Vision
Our vision is to be a leading and dynamic law enforcement agency in preventing trafficking of Narcotic drugs and Psychotropic substances in to the country and monitoring importation of narcotic precursor chemicals and their illicit usage.
Mission
- Prevent, combact abuse of and illicit traffick in Narcotic drugs and Psychotropic substances.
- Work in co-operation with other government statutory and non government authorities and agencies to enforce relevent drug laws.
- To ensure implementation of national obligations under various International convensions in respect of illicit trafficking of drugs and psychotropic substances.
- To work in co-operation with relevent foreign authorities and international organizations.
- Training of staff to assess and analyze existing and emerging challenges.
- Conducting awareness programmes to make the society knowledgeable on abuse of Narcotic drugs.
Laws & Regulations
- Customs Ordinance No. 17 of 1869
- Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance No. 17 of 1929
- Cosmetics, Devices, and Drugs Act No. 27 of 1980
- Conventions against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act No 1 of 2008
- Precursor Control Authority Regulations, Gazette Extraordinary 1653/7 May 10th 2010
- Tobacco Tax Act No. 8 of 1999
- Tobacco Tat Act Regulations, Gazette Extraordinary 1610/28 17th July 2009
Precursor Chemicals
Sri Lanka Customs Department, as the sole border protection authority of the country, is in a venture to strengthen its vigilance on importation of Precursor Chemicals by various consignees. It is our belief that a systematic monitoring structure is essential to ensure that the precursor chemicals imported to Sri Lanka are utilized for their intended and legitimate purposes only.
The term “Precursor Chemical’’ is generally referred to substances frequently used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. “Precursors” are any of the substances listed in the table I and II of the U.N. Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988.
Chemicals play two essential roles in the production of illegal drugs;
- As starting chemical inputs for the production of synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine and MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine more commonly known under the name of ecstasy)
- As refining agents and solvents for processing plant-based materials such as coca and opium poppy into drugs such as cocaine and heroin.
Chemicals used in synthetic drug production are known as “precursor” chemicals because they become incorporated into the drug product and are less likely to be substituted by other chemicals.
The concept of precursor chemical control is an important part of the international strategy to reduce the availability of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances worldwide.
The strategy seeks to deny traffickers access to the chemicals that are frequently used in the illicit manufacture of such drugs.
The key concept in precursor chemical control is: NO CHEMICALS = NO DRUGS This is necessarily to strike a fine balance between the legitimate commercial demand of industry and the need to prevent diversion of these chemicals to illicit channels.
1961 and 1971 Conventions :
- Paragraph 8 of Article 2 of 1961 Single Convention,
- Paragraph 9 of Article 2 of 1971 Single Convention,
- The 1988 Convention against illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.
“Measures are necessary to monitor certain substances, including precursors, chemicals and solvents, which are used in the manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, the ready availability of which has led to an increase in the clandestine manufacture of such drugs and substances”
Table I of the U.N. Convention
| Table II of the U.N. Convention
|
Address:
Narcotics Control Unit,
Sri Lanka Customs,
No 40,
Main Street,
Colombo 11,
Sri Lanka.
Telephone: +94 11 2221555
Fax: +94 11 2424559
Email: ddcnarcotics@customs.gov.lk