Large cocaine smuggling attempt stopped at BIA; Ugandan woman arrested

Colombo, April 13 (Daily Mirror) – Sri Lanka Customs officers have stopped a large cocaine smuggling attempt at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning, officials said.

The suspect, a 47-year-old woman from Uganda, was arrested after arriving on Qatar Airways flight QR664 from Uganda via Doha. She was selected for inspection based on intelligence information and risk profiling.

Customs officers found 21 cocaine capsules hidden in her clothing, with a total weight of 274 grams. The street value of the drugs is estimated at Rs. 12.33 million.

Officials also believe the woman may have swallowed additional cocaine capsules. Medical tests and legal procedures are now underway to investigate this.

The suspect and the seized drugs have been handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau for further investigation and legal action.

Sri Lanka Customs said the detection shows the strength of their intelligence-based operations and strict monitoring at entry points.

Authorities also reaffirmed their commitment to stopping international drug trafficking and preventing Sri Lanka from being used as a transit point or destination for illegal drugs.