The suspects were taken into custody at Bandaranaike International Airport on April 25 after arriving from Thailand with 112 kilograms of “Kush” cannabis and “Hashish,” with an estimated street value exceeding Rs. 110 million. The drugs had been concealed in their luggage.
The monks were detained for seven days under detention orders issued to the Police Narcotics Bureau and were produced before court following the completion of preliminary investigations.
Further inquiries revealed that another Buddhist monk, identified as Amithananda Thero, had allegedly masterminded the smuggling operation. He was later arrested while in hiding at a temple in the Gampaha area and is scheduled to be produced before court on May 3.
Police also uncovered information indicating that narcotics may have been smuggled into the country on a previous occasion under the direction of the same suspect.
Meanwhile, an additional suspect accused of aiding and abetting the operation has been arrested in the Athurugiriya area as investigations continue.
