40,851 kilograms of narcotics seized since 2015

Chamal says proposal to export cannabis and generate revenue will not be allowed

by Zulfick Farzan 10-10-2020 | 3:39 PM

Colombo (News 1st); Internal Security, Home Affairs & Disaster Management State Minister Chamal Rajapaksa on Friday (09) said he would not allow any proposal to earn foreign exchange by exporting cannabis and added he would not allow any such move, even though anyone can made such proposals.

Chamal Rajapaksa told Parliament law enforcement arrested 470,206 people from 2015 until September 18th 2020, on charges of selling and using illicit drugs.

He said from 2015 to September 18, this year, police had seized 40,851.903 kilograms of narcotics and 1,540,000 of narcotic pills, while Customs had seized 197.254 kilograms of narcotics and 328,745 pills.

The Navy had seized 5,107.709 kilograms of narcotics and 17 pills during that same period, while prisons had seized 279 kilograms of narcotics and 24 pills, said Rajapaksa.

The Excise Department seized 10 kilograms of narcotics and the Army had seized 775 kilograms of narcotics during that same timeline, he added.