Breaking politico-narco nexus

For decades, we have known of a sinister alliance that few dare to name openly, the ‘politico-narco complex.’ It has long been known that the narcotics trade, especially at the scale seen on our shores, cannot thrive without the protection and patronage of politicians and, at times, the tacit cooperation of law enforcement. 

The sad reality is that while we had heard of record-breaking drug busts worth billions of rupees, these seizures seldom translated into the arrest or conviction of the masterminds who orchestrate such massive operations. The small-time peddlers and carriers are sacrificed at the altar of “justice,” while the true architects of the trade remained untouched, shielded by political influence and deep-rooted networks of corruption.

The importation, storage, and distribution of narcotics demand not only resources and logistics but also silence from those who ought to be protecting the State. A shipload of drugs does not dock in Colombo without someone turning a blind eye. A container of heroin does not vanish from a port unless certain officials have been paid off. And yet, despite public outrage, the so-called “kingpins” remained safely out of reach, their power fortified by illicit money that has for years greased the wheels of our political machine.

This is why the present moment is critical. The current Government, less entangled in decades of patronage and corruption, holds an opportunity to finally disrupt this cycle of complicity. For the first time in generations, there is space to confront the nexus between politics and narcotics with courage and consistency. The public has grown weary of half-hearted measures, of sensational headlines about billion-rupee seizures followed by silence. People yearn for justice, not against the expendable couriers, but against those who run the show from air-conditioned offices and parliamentary benches.

No one can guarantee that Sri Lanka or any nation, for that matter will ever be entirely free of drugs. That is a naïve expectation. But what is achievable, and absolutely essential, is to rid the country of State-sponsored crime. If political campaigns continue to be fuelled by narco-money, if police officers are still compromised by bribes, and if courts remain vulnerable to intimidation, then society itself is corroded at the core.

The recent experience of apprehension of hardcore criminals in Indonesia, and their repatriation are significant developments. This demonstrates that political will can make a difference. The arrests and drug busts resulting from confessions of previously untouchable figures stand as testimony that no one is beyond the reach of justice when leadership commits itself to the cause.

Breaking the politico-narco complex would not only dismantle a major criminal network but also restore public faith in governance. It would send a clear message that the days of immunity for the powerful are over. But this requires resolve: investigations that are transparent, prosecutions that are free from political interference, and protection for whistleblowers who risk their lives to expose the truth.

The Government must steel itself against the inevitable backlash. Those who benefit from the drug trade will not surrender easily, they will attempt to infiltrate, intimidate, and corrupt the system at every turn. Yet, to retreat now would be to squander a rare opportunity. If this Government can demonstrate the courage to go after the kingpins, no matter their connections or titles, it will have done more than win a battle against drugs.