Sri Lankan monks arrested after cannabis discovered in luggage
BBC • • world
Key Points:
- Twenty-two monks were arrested at Colombo airport in Sri Lanka after customs officials found 110kg of Kush cannabis hidden in false compartments within their luggage.
- The monks, mainly students returning from a sponsored four-day holiday in Thailand, each carried about 5kg of the potent drug.
- A 23rd monk, who allegedly organised the trip but did not travel, was also arrested; he reportedly told the others the packages were donations and arranged for their collection.
- Police found images on the monks' phones showing them enjoying their holiday in casual attire, and authorities suspect the monks may have been unaware of the drug smuggling.
- This incident marks the first known case of monks being arrested for drug smuggling through a Sri Lankan airport; the monks were remanded for seven days pending further investigation.
