Sri Lankan Monks Arrested Over Cannabis Smuggling at Airport

Authorities in Sri Lanka have arrested 22 Buddhist monks after discovering 110kg of cannabis concealed in their luggage at the country’s main international airport.

Customs officials said each monk was carrying about 5kg of Kush—a highly potent form of cannabis—hidden inside specially constructed false compartments. The group had arrived in the capital, Colombo, on Saturday after a four-day, all-expenses-paid trip to Thailand funded by an unidentified sponsor.

Police later arrested a 23rd monk in a suburb of Colombo, believed to have organised the trip. According to investigators, he allegedly told the group the parcels they were carrying were donations and that someone would collect them upon arrival.

The arrested monks, many of whom are students from temples across the country, appeared in court on Sunday and were remanded in custody for seven days to assist with ongoing investigations.

Authorities said evidence recovered from their mobile phones showed images and videos of the group enjoying their trip in casual attire, raising further questions about the circumstances surrounding the journey.

Officials noted that the drugs were hidden among items such as school supplies and sweets, and suggested that some of the monks may not have been aware of what they were transporting.

The case is believed to be the first of its kind in Sri Lanka, involving a group of monks suspected of attempting to smuggle drugs through an airport, and has sparked widespread attention across the country.