23 organised drug traffickers identified, Public Security Minister says

Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala announced that 23 organized criminals linked to major drug trafficking operations have been identified. He mentioned that these individuals are currently hiding outside of Sri Lanka. The Minister noted that the police are actively using different methods to catch them. He also claimed that these traffickers have long had backing from some politicians, calling it an “open secret” known to many. “We are conducting ongoing raids. Politicians have repeatedly supported organized criminals involved in drug trafficking. This is a well-known fact. These criminals lead the drug trade network. We have identified 23 of them, and they are all abroad. We are keeping a close watch on them,” he explained. In a related matter, Dr. Darshani Hettiarachchi, a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, pointed out a troubling issue. She stated that children who suffer physical and emotional abuse at a young age are more likely to show violent behavior and develop drug addiction. Dr. Hettiarachchi shared these insights during a media briefing in Colombo.