Page 78 - MDSL Final

MARITIME DOCTRINE OF SRI LANKA

Mumbai Attack
With the increase of large and small container transfer in the sea,
proliferation of WMD is a concern in ensuring maritime security. Despite
of introduction of various international regulating mechanism and
container security initiatives, terrorist may resort to transport WMD in
container through sea ports.

Drug Trafficking and Gunrunning

The IOR is highly vulnerable for the scourge of small arms and light
weapons smuggling. Further, the huge size of the ocean area has
become a challenge to conduct policing activities. The famous world
drug dealing regions of ‘Golden Crescent’ and the ‘Golden Triangle’ are
48
also situated in IOR and this has opened gateways to the arms and drug
dealers. The Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal are being extensively
used to transfer the illegal commodities by the drug traffickers. Though
local statistics indicate that the annual consumption of heroin by addicts
is minimal, apprehensions made during an year at ports, airports and on
fishing vessels is significant and alarming.

60 To Nurture a Stable Environment at Sea