A high-profile criminal case has been uncovered in Sri Lanka, causing a significant stir. Twenty-two Buddhist monks were arrested in the country for attempting to smuggle a large quantity of narcotics. This was reported by the Daily Mirror publication.
The incident occurred at Bandaranaike International Airport, located north of the capital, Colombo. Law enforcement agencies have assessed this seizure as one of the largest in the airport's history.
According to investigation data, the monks arrived from Thailand, and a total of approximately 112 kilograms of narcotics—"cannabis" and "hashish"—were discovered in their luggage. The total value of the seized illegal cargo exceeds 1.1 billion Sri Lankan rupees, which is approximately 3.45 million US dollars.
Those detained were brought before the Negombo Court on April 26. According to preliminary information, this criminal network was led by three monks associated with a temple located in the western part of the country. The remaining 19 individuals were recruited through social media, specifically Facebook.
It is noted that most of the young monks were promised free air tickets, accommodation, and food. They were told they were actually transporting educational materials and sweets for schoolchildren.
Additionally, a suspected organizer of this criminal group was detained in the Gampaha area. The investigation revealed that the group had carried out similar operations before and was planning another major move in the near future.
Law enforcement agencies are currently conducting a large-scale investigation into the case. This incident has once again highlighted the need to strengthen oversight against crimes involving religious figures in the country.
