The Negombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered the detention of 22 Buddhist monks arrested in connection with the major narcotics seizure at Bandaranaike International Airport until May 2.
The suspects were produced before court following their arrest after authorities uncovered a large stock of suspected Kush and Hashish at the airport.
Police said the narcotics haul, valued at more than Rs. 1.1 billion, is among the largest ever detected at the airport.
The monks were taken into custody during a raid carried out by the Police Narcotics Bureau after receiving intelligence information.
Investigations are continuing into the source of the drugs, those who financed the operation, and whether others were involved in the alleged smuggling network. (Newswire)