COLOMBO — A prominent Catholic leader in Sri Lanka has issued a strong appeal to coastal fishing communities, urging local fishermen to resist the lure of illicit drug trafficking and safeguard their livelihoods and families from the scourge of narcotics.
Key Highlights
- Church leadership urges fishing communities to reject involvement with drug smuggling networks.
- Economic pressures have increasingly made vulnerable coastal workers targets for organized crime syndicates.
- Calls grow for enhanced maritime security alongside government support for legitimate fishing trades.
Addressing community members and religious leaders, the Cardinal highlighted the growing threat posed by international narcotics networks exploiting Sri Lanka’s extensive coastline. Amid rising fuel prices and economic uncertainty, some local fishermen have been targeted by cartels offering large sums of money to transport illegal drugs across maritime boundaries.
Warning of the devastating social and moral consequences, the prelate emphasized that quick financial gains from illicit trade destroy families and undermine entire coastal villages. He urged fishermen to preserve their dignity and traditional livelihoods while calling on state authorities to dismantle the masterminds behind the trade rather than focusing solely on low-level operatives.
The appeal comes as Sri Lankan maritime authorities step up patrols in the Indian Ocean, which has increasingly served as a major transit hub for narcotics trafficking in South Asia.