22 monks from Katunayake have been arrested with drugs worth Rs. 1.1 billion (Rs. 1.1 billion), the largest drug haul in Sri Lanka’s history. The arrests were made based on a tip-off received by the Airport Narcotics Bureau.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the group of monks had left for Bangkok, Thailand, on April 22nd and that a sponsor had provided them with air tickets for the trip.
The arrested monks were produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court today, where Negombo Additional Magistrate Subhani Abeysekara ordered the group to be detained and questioned until May 2.
Presenting the suspects to the court, the Airport Police Narcotics Bureau OIC Sanath Kumara, Police Sergeant Abeykoon, Police Sergeant Marambage and Police Constable Prasanna gave evidence.
They told the court that the monks had brought the drugs in a very meticulous manner, and that they had made fake bottoms in every suitcase they brought, hidden the drugs in them, and packed school supplies such as pens and pencils and various sweets on top of them. Accordingly, they pointed out to the court that at least 4 to 5 kilograms of drugs were hidden in the suitcase of one monk (a robed monk).
The officers further said that this is extremely shocking news that has completely turned the religious history of Sri Lanka as well as the history of the airport upside down. All the monks arrested in this regard have been identified as young monks from different parts of the island and pursuing higher education in various institutions.
This drug haul is the largest drug haul ever seized in the history of the Katunayake Airport, and the Airport Police states that this is the first time that a group of monks have been caught in a drug racket in this way.
When examining the mobile phones of these monks, the police had even found photos and videos taken in Thailand of them removing their robes and wearing ordinary civilian clothes.