A 27-year-old Canadian national was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake on Saturday after Sri Lanka Customs allegedly discovered a large quantity of hashish concealed in his luggage.
According to Sri Lanka Customs, the suspect was taken into custody shortly after arriving on a flight from Qatar.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the narcotics, estimated to be worth more than Rs. 200 million, were allegedly purchased in Toronto, Canada, before the suspect travelled to Qatar and then continued to Sri Lanka.
Customs officials stated that the hashish had been carefully concealed inside two pieces of luggage. The illicit drugs were detected during a routine inspection conducted by airport authorities.
The suspect has been handed over to the relevant authorities for further investigations, while Customs officers are continuing inquiries to determine whether the arrest is linked to a broader international drug trafficking network.
Authorities have not yet released the identity of the suspect. Further investigations are ongoing.
