Spanish national arrested at Katunayake Airport with Rs. 110 Mn worth of Cocaine

Katunayake (July 25 (Daily Mirror) - The Sri Lanka Customs Narcotics Control Unit has arrested a 79-year-old Spanish national after discovering a haul of cocaine valued at nearly Rs. 110 million hidden inside his luggage.

The suspect, identified as an agricultural engineer, arrived in Sri Lanka on July 22. He traveled from Sierra Leone, transiting through Addis Ababa and Doha, before landing at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake on Qatar Airways flight QR654.

Upon his initial arrival, customs officials inspected the suspect's hand luggage but found no suspicious items. Because his checked baggage had not arrived on the same flight, authorities permitted him to leave the airport after he completed the necessary arrival formalities.

The delayed baggage subsequently arrived in Sri Lanka, prompting the suspect to return to the airport's arrival terminal at around 6:30 p.m. yesterday (July 24) to claim it. However, before releasing the luggage, Customs Narcotics Control officers subjected it to an X-ray scan.

The scan revealed suspicious materials, leading to a thorough physical inspection of the bag. During the search, officers discovered four parcels of cocaine meticulously concealed within two file folders. The seized narcotics weighed a total of 2.198 kilograms and have an estimated street value of approximately Rs. 109.9 million.

Sri Lanka Customs has initiated a preliminary investigation into the incident. The suspect, along with the seized drugs, is scheduled to be handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) for further investigations and subsequent legal proceedings.