MASSIVE MISSION AHEAD

POLICE STILL STRUGGLE TO COMBAT CANNABIS INFLOW

To arrest the flow of ganja (cannabis sativa ), the popular local narcotic,
from the jungles of the southern belt still proves unsuccessful.

Police raids on jungles and the stop of ganja plantations, netting in
suspects, but imprisonment of those responsible have not put a stop to this
menace. It was revealed that the city continues to get in more or less a
regular stock of the narcotic, despite tough actions to arrest the flow.

A careful examination of police actions and other preventive measures
adopted, so far points out that there had been a big flaw in the whole
procedure. It is now clear that the raids should be continuous without a
break.

Southern Range Deputy Inspector General of Police Seneviratne Banda has
drawn out plans to deal with the situation more tactfully. Superintendent
of Police Upali Liyanage and the Hambantota ASP A.D.H Bandusena will be in
charge.

ASP Bandusena told the 'Sunday Observer' the new approach to tackle the
problem would be of a 'non-stop' type vigil. "I think it will be a
constructive way to eliminate the passage of ganja into the city," he said.

In literary sense, the police approach may look too hard to put into
practise. With limited manpower and saddled with other shortcomings, the
police could be posed with a difficult and dangerous task in jungle terrain.

The hand picked men from different police stations in the area will raid
jungles on surprise raids.

Thanamalwila, Suriyawewa, Tissamaharama, Udawalawe, Sevanagala and Lahugala
are identified as some of the notorious areas for ganja cultivation.

The cannabis plots, in several cases are far away from civilisation, thus
making approach difficult.

The extent of the cultivated land extend from one acre to several acres at
places. Sources say November to March is the season ganja is grown.

Police teams are advised to be extremely vigilant during raiding missions
in the jungles. There have been several instances of trap guns set on the
paths which leads to the plots. This, according to police, is another
measure by the growers in discouraging intruders.

A kilo of the dried leaves fetch around Rs.20,000 in Colombo and the price
may vary.

Investigations have also revealed that the modus operandi is to collect the
cannabis for several days until a sizeable quantity is stockpiled. Here,
Suriyawewa has been used as a transshipment base. Subsequently,
transportation to Colombo takes place in bulk concealed in every possible
form.

These were revealed, when the Tissamaharama police nabbed a suspect while
transporting cannabis to the Suriyawewa base.