Sri Lankan authorities arrested 22 young Buddhist monks at Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake after they arrived from Bangkok, Thailand carrying a massive stock of illegal drugs.
Officers from the Police Narcotics Bureau acted on a tip-off and stopped the group around 10:10 PM on Saturday (April 25) when they landed on a Thai AirAsia flight. Authorities immediately inspected their luggage and uncovered a carefully concealed drug operation.
Drugs Hidden Among School Items and Sweets
Investigators discovered more than 110 kilograms of Kush and Hashish hidden inside the monks’ travel bags. The suspects cleverly concealed the drugs between school supplies and packets of sweets to avoid detection.
Each monk carried approximately 5 kilograms of narcotics individually, showing a coordinated smuggling effort. Officials estimate the total street value of the seized drugs exceeds Rs. 1.1 billion.
Young Monks Linked to Organized Network
Authorities identified the suspects as young monks from different parts of Sri Lanka, many of whom currently study at higher education institutions.
Investigations revealed that a trustee arranged their airline tickets and sent them to Thailand on April 22. During their stay abroad, they reportedly wore civilian clothes and engaged in suspicious activities. Officers recovered photos and videos from their mobile phones confirming these movements.
This incident marks the largest drug seizure in the history of Katunayake Airport and also the first time such a large number of monks have been arrested in a narcotics case.
Court Proceedings Begin
Authorities will produce all suspects before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court on Sunday (April 26) for further legal action.
