A UN report has named Sri Lanka a key transit point in a powerful international drug network, exposing deep flaws in border control, law enforcement and the country’s legal system.
According to a 2024 report released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Sri Lanka and the Maldives have now become major targets and hubs for international drug trafficking through maritime routes. The report states that both countries have turned into strategic drug redistribution points due to their location near major drug-producing territories in Asia, their long coastlines and their positioning within Indian Ocean trade routes.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime highlights that traffickers are using the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, Maldives and Mauritius as key transit lines to reach Sri Lanka. Synthetic drugs such as crystal meth and heroin are being smuggled into the region through the Golden Crescent, which includes Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The report explains that drugs are moved through the Makran Coast between Pakistan and Iran, then transported to Africa, and from there shipped to the Maldives and Sri Lanka before some consignments are re-routed as far as Australia.
Domestically, the report notes that illicit substances such as Kerala cannabis and methamphetamine are mainly brought into Sri Lanka through the seas near Mannar, Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, Mullaitivu and Kalpitiya. It further reveals that traffickers are increasingly using routes along the southern seas to smuggle heroin and “ice” into the country. Multi-day fishing trawlers and large commercial cargo vessels have been identified as the primary carriers for these illegal consignments.
Based on intelligence gathered from Sri Lankan and Maldivian security forces and government agencies, the UN report also identifies corruption within law enforcement bodies and legal institutions as a major obstacle in combating drug trafficking. It warns that time-consuming legal procedures and outdated legislation allow drug networks to continue operating with reduced risk of conviction.
The report therefore recommends that both Sri Lanka and the Maldives urgently update and strengthen their legal frameworks, shorten prosecution timelines, and improve transparency within state agencies responsible for preventing narcotics-related crime. It stresses that without immediate reform, the region will continue to serve as a safe corridor for high-volume international drug trafficking.
