The Sri Lanka Customs Department has warned of a rise in drug trafficking carried out through the postal system, with narcotics being moved in small envelopes and parcels sent by mail.
Customs Spokesperson Chandana Punchihewa said traffickers are increasingly exploiting the postal channel to exchange drugs, using the low-profile nature of ordinary letters and small packages to evade detection.
The trend points to a shifting method of operation by drug networks, moving away from bulk consignments towards smaller, harder-to-detect shipments dispersed through the mail. Such consignments are more difficult for authorities to intercept because of the sheer volume of postal items processed daily.
Customs officers have been stepping up screening of postal and courier consignments as part of the wider national effort against drug trafficking. Authorities have repeatedly flagged the diversification of smuggling routes — by sea, air passengers and now postal parcels — as a key challenge in curbing the flow of narcotics into and through the country.
The department urged continued vigilance and cooperation with postal and courier operators to identify and intercept suspicious items.
