evidence: It has also shaped organized criminal activity. Sri Lanka experienced a surge in serious and organized crimes in 2022, a year that saw much political unrest and civilian uprising. According to police data, grave crimes increased by 60 per cent month on month during 2022, while minor crimes increased in absolute terms from 1 676 recorded offences in January 2022 to 29 908 by the end of November. Additionally, by December 2022, 32 deadly shootings had been reported, largely linked to disputes between drug cartels. This kind of activity is indicative of an increase in the number of transnational crime syndicates, which officials believe are operating from outside Sri Lanka. [...] Transnational crime syndicates find troubled spots particularly opportune in moments of crisis. This is especially the case in Sri Lanka, where the crisis was unprecedented. The instability has presented opportunities, particularly for well-established organized criminal networks, such as the groups controlling the country’s prominent drug trades. Chief of these is the heroin trade, for which Sri Lanka scored 6 out of 10 in the 2021 Index.