Smuggling medicines from India on the increase

With the shortage of prescribed drugs in Sri Lanka, smuggling medicines from India is on the rise. Pharmaceutical industry sources said that a number of medicines which are in short supply have arrived in the country illegally.

They said that due to high prices and non-availability of dollars for imports the smuggling has increased.  Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Navy over the weekend recovered a stock of prescription drugs washed ashore at Nadukuda, Mannar, during a foot patrol conducted in the area.
 
The Navy said they have been conducting regular patrols and operations in the coastal areas of the island to ward off illegal activities taking place via sea routes. In a similar foot patrol conducted by SLNS Gajaba in the North Central Naval Command, this stock of drugs in polythene packages were recovered at Nadukuda beach. It was further revealed that these drugs were made in overseas countries.
 
It is believed that smugglers might have abandoned the stock, being unable to take them away due to naval operations in the area.
 
The market value of the stock of prescription drugs is believed to be over Rs. 4.5 million and they have been kept in naval custody until they are produced for onward legal proceedings.