The Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) is back under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. The unit, once the apex Counter-Narcotics agency in Sri Lanka, has fallen low. Each time the PNB stumbles, the Police Department and the Public Security Ministry attempt to damage control and rotate Police officers from the same police community, replacing the heads as a band-aid measure to hold on to what little credibility the Bureau has left.
However, the PNB continues to stumble, staffed with some officers and ranks who have, over the years, shown a skill to be turned or compromised by organised crime elements. This is not a situation limited to the PNB, but a cancer which has significantly impacted the entire Police Department. Almost every branch of the Police has seen members of their staff being compromised by organised crime and other criminal elements. Long-standing politicisation of the Law enforcement agencies has also made their ranks and structure vulnerable to exploitation.
According to reports, the latest black mark on the PNB’s Shield is linked to the leaking of vital intelligence information about the surveillance of Sri Lanka's multi-day fishing vessels, which are often used to smuggle narcotics into Sri Lanka. Reports indicate the Inspector General of Police has triggered an inquiry into the leaking of information that includes data from the Vessels Monitoring System (VMS) and other digital intelligence.
The system, which was once jealously guarded by the fisheries department, was later shared with the Sri Lanka Navy to facilitate the counter narcotics operations. Later, despite concerns raised by some senior defence officials, the VMS data has been made available to the PNB, it is learnt. It is reported that an investigation was initiated, following information that data from the Vessels Monitoring System (VMS) accessed by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB), had been compromised. With the foreign donated VMS system aiding in numerous drug interdictions by the Navy and Police, it was but a matter of time before the organised crime groups would act to compromise the technology tool, which gave authorities an edge against them.
The failure of the Police Department and linked intelligence agencies to foresee this threat and carry out effective counter-intelligence operations to deter, deny and intercept such breaches is indicative of ‘Let's respond after the event’ mindset of local law enforcement, public security authorities and some elements of the domestic intelligence community.
The latest failure linked to the PNB highlights the need for vetted units to handle sensitive intelligence and information operations. The need for vetted units within Sri Lankan law enforcement agencies had been highlighted by some foreign intelligence agencies and some UN agencies, as far back as 2018.
Despite multiple breaches of confidence and integrity at the PNB, the Police Department seems to lack a multiprong approach to counter the threat. However, it must be noted that under the current administration, the Government has thus far shown the political will to act against such compromised officers, which is a step in the right direction. Nevertheless, the fact that serious changes are needed to clean out the Police department is clear. In 2021, thirteen Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB) officers were arrested for allegedly being involved in drug trafficking and were charged with the offence. Over the last few years, several Police and Armed Forces personnel, both retired and serving, have also been arrested and charged over links to organised crime.
When such units and intelligence are compromised, it creates opportunities for organised criminal groups and other non-state actors, both domestic and foreign, to get up to a range of mischief and malicious action, which may have serious consequences for national security. It also helps to reinforce the mindset of the domestic intelligence community and state agencies to remain in their own silos, and not to share critical intelligence in a timely manner. This could lead to serious law enforcement and security shortcomings. Such compromise of state law enforcement agencies also acts as a red flag for regional and international intelligence agencies, making them think twice about sharing critical, time-sensitive intelligence with their Sri Lankan counterparts.
Given the credibility issues which have surrounded the PNB unit and the Police department as a whole, it is clear that some tough measures will be needed. It is time to bring ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ to the Police Department, and the starting point should be the Police Narcotics Bureau. The State must move to restore credibility and the integrity of its law enforcement agencies, or risk losing control of the law and order situation.