The Negombo Magistrate’s Court has ordered the detention of a monk accused of orchestrating the major drug smuggling operation involving 22 monks arrested at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).
The monk is believed to be the main suspect behind the operation, which involved bringing a large consignment of narcotics from Thailand into the country.
The alleged main suspect was ordered to be detained for seven days until May 2 by Negombo Additional Magistrate Subhani Abeysekara when the suspect was produced before the court on Monday (27).
He was arrested on Sunday (26) after allegedly fleeing and going into hiding in the Miriswatta area following the airport arrests. Medical reports also indicated that the suspect was under the influence of drugs at the time of his arrest, authorities said.
Investigations presented in court revealed that the suspect had coordinated the travel of the 22 monks to Thailand and managed communications related to the operation via WhatsApp.
Police said a total of 112 kg of narcotics, including ‘Kush’ cannabis and ‘Hash,’, valued at more than Rs. 1.1 billion, had been recovered from the group, which had allegedly smuggled the drugs concealed in travel baggage. (Newswire)