Five nabbed at BIA with Rs. 72.2 mn in Hashish and Kush

By T.K.G. Kapila

Colombo, June 28 (Daily Mirror) - Five Sri Lankan passengers, including a woman, were arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake early today after they were allegedly caught attempting to smuggle narcotics worth an estimated Rs. 72.2 million into the country.

The suspects, all residents of the Kegalle area and in their 30s, were taken into custody by officers of the Airport Police Narcotics Bureau after arriving on SriLankan Airlines flight UL-405 from Bangkok, Thailand, at around 4.30 a.m.

Police said the group had attempted to use a new smuggling method by concealing the drugs inside 15 glass jars and transporting them in polythene bags printed with the logo of the Sri Lanka Duty Free Shopping Complex, apparently to avoid suspicion while leaving the airport.

The seized consignment consisted of 6 kilograms and 110 grams of hashish and 11 kilograms and 62 grams of kush, with a combined street value estimated at Rs. 72.2 million.

The suspects are due to be produced before the Negombo Magistrate's Court, while the Airport Police Narcotics Bureau is conducting further investigations.