Plans to introduce tough laws on smuggling drugs via sea routes

The government plans to amend existing statutes and enact new laws governing the smuggling of dangerous drugs via sea routes.

According to the Bills related to Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill and the Judicature (Amendment) Bill were extensively discussed within the Sectorial Oversight Committee for Governance, Justice and Civil Protection.

This committee meeting was conducted at the Parliament with the chairman of the committee, MP, Dr. Najith Indika.

Members of the committee who attended the meeting have proposed other amendments that should be placed in the said draft bills.

They said that legal opinion from the Attorney General’s Department must be sought and bills must go through the approval process of the Cabinet.

Topics included the delay in the reports from the government analysts as well as the use of online techniques by drug traffickers. Legal recourse available in connection with the above mentioned topics was likewise tackled.

By Nidarshani Wickramasinghe