Laos national busted with 2.6kg of crystal meth

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya and T.K.G. Kapila 

Laos national Xaiyavong Thongphath (25) was nabbed with 2.623kgs of methamphetamine (also known as crystal meth or ice) last morning at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Police Spokesman SP Ruwan Gunasekera said.

He said the suspect who arrived from Kuala Lumpur and held by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) was the first Laos national to be arrested in Sri Lanka.  The consignment with a street value of Rs.40 million had been concealed inside a false bottom of the suspect’s luggage. 

Initial investigations revealed that the suspect had visited the country on an earlier occasion. 
SP Gunasekera said the suspect was to be produced in the Negombo Magistrate’s Court yesterday.