Sri Lanka Police have arrested the main suspect alleged to have facilitated the overseas travel of the group of 22 individuals dressed as Buddhist monks who were detained at Bandaranaike International Airport with Rs. 1.1 billion worth of narcotics.
The main suspect has also been identified as a monk and was apprehended in Meegahawatta, Gampaha, NewsFirst reported on Sunday afternoon.
Police separately confirmed that the 22 individuals already in custody — described in official phrasing as “appearing to be monks” — will be detained for seven days under detention orders for further questioning. The suspects are aged between 19 and 28 and are residents of Ampara, Horana, Boralesgamuwa, Wadduwa, Warakapola, Piliyandala, Homagama, Athuraliya, Ambalangoda, Udispaththuwa, Madapatha and Balangoda.
The group was arrested on Saturday night by the Police Narcotics Bureau on intelligence after returning from Thailand. Investigators uncovered more than 120 kilograms of Kush and hashish, with each suspect carrying over five kilograms concealed inside false compartments in suitcases packed with school supplies and assorted food items.
Three of the 22 suspects had previously travelled to Bangkok, investigators said.
The arrest of the alleged organiser is the first significant break in identifying the recruitment chain behind one of the largest single airport drug seizures in Sri Lankan history. Police said further investigations are underway.
The development comes hours after the Mahanayaka Theros of all three main Nikayas issued a joint statement condemning the misuse of the saffron robe and urging strict legal action against those allegedly recruiting young monks into unlawful activities.
