Sri Lanka is facing emerging challenges in efforts to curb the influx of narcotics, with drugs increasingly entering the country via e-commerce platforms and especially through travellers arriving from Thailand, where cannabis has been legalised, Director of Customs Chandana Punchihewa has said.

Addressing the media yesterday, Punchihewa noted that a significant proportion of illicit substances were now being smuggled through well-known online shopping platforms.

“These transactions conducted over the internet present a new challenge, as they are difficult to monitor. The companies rely on declared data and are often unaware of the actual contents of parcels,” he said.

He acknowledged that Sri Lanka had previously maintained a relatively lax approach towards regulating e-commerce imports, as the volume of such goods had been minimal.

“Earlier, the quantities were negligible and often overlooked. In some instances, due to the low value of the goods, taxes were not imposed. It was only last year that we began to regulate this sector more closely,” he said.

Punchihewa said stricter enforcement of Customs regulations was introduced after authorities identified the use of e-commerce channels for drug smuggling. He added that intelligence shared through international networks, including cooperation with global customs authorities and the World Customs Organization, has assisted in intercepting suspicious consignments.

He also highlighted an increase in narcotics, particularly cannabis, being brought into the country by travellers arriving from Thailand, where its use has been legalised. Three arrests linked to such cases have been recorded so far this year. Sri Lanka and Thailand currently maintain a visa-free travel arrangement.

In 2025, Sri Lanka Customs recorded 147 drug-related arrests, resulting in the seizure of 435 kilos of various narcotics with an estimated street value of Rs. 5.8 billion.

The haul included 376 kilos of cannabis, 32 kilos of cocaine, 14.6 kilos of MDA, 8.5 kilos of methamphetamine, 3.6 kilos of heroin, and 2 kilos of other substances.

Of the total quantity seized, 283 kilos were detected at Bandaranaike International Airport, 14.4 kilos during Customs inspections, 97 kilos at the Central Mail Exchange, 21 kilos through unaccompanied parcel services, and 19 kilos from passenger goods warehouses, he said.