Update: Monks, after indulging in pleasures in Bangkok, instructed that the luggage delivered to the airport should not be opened.

The largest and most controversial drug bust in the history of Sri Lankan airports was recently reported at Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake. This occurred when twenty-two young individuals in monastic robes, who had brought a massive consignment of 'Kush' and 'Hash' drugs worth over one hundred and ten million rupees into the country, were arrested by officers of the Police Narcotics Bureau.

This incident clearly demonstrates the regrettable situation where the immense respect and acceptance that monks hold in society, under the guise of the Buddhist robe, have been subtly and systematically exploited for a massive drug trafficking operation. This also marks the first time in Katunayake Airport's history that such a large group of individuals in monastic robes has been caught by the law with what is considered the largest drug consignment.

The inception of this organized trafficking operation was marked by a cunning plan targeting young individuals in monastic robes residing in temples. Of the twenty-two individuals in monastic robes arrested, twenty-one are young monks under the age of thirty, and investigations have confirmed that they are students at the Buddhist and Pali University as well as other private Buddhist universities and higher education institutions. Only one person among this group is a forty-year-old monk who serves as a lecturer in a Pirivena (monastic college). Another unique aspect is that these young individuals in monastic robes, residing in remote temples across various parts of the island, only got to know each other after joining this trip. They were enticed into this operation by being contacted through social media platforms, including Facebook, and offered a free three-day recreational trip to Thailand without any cost.

This large-scale operation was orchestrated by a chief individual in monastic robes residing at the Ipilkanda Meditation Center in Meegahawatta, Gampaha. With the assistance of three other individuals in monastic robes residing at a temple in Piliyandala, Madapatha, Jamburaliya, he organized this activity very secretly. Police investigations have revealed that this main trafficker in monastic robes provided all necessary expenses for this trip, including air tickets, visas, accommodation, and food, without any shortage. It is suspected that he maintained direct connections with a prominent drug trafficker and used these young monks for foreign travel.

As planned, this group of individuals in monastic robes departed for Bangkok, Thailand, on the twenty-second of last month. During the three days spent in Bangkok, officers from the Police Narcotics Bureau uncovered a wealth of astonishing information regarding their behavior patterns when examining their mobile phones. Photos and video footage confirmed that a significant number of these individuals, after arriving in Thailand, removed their robes and engaged in various activities dressed in ordinary civilian clothes. The footage clearly showed some individuals in monastic robes visiting nightclubs, engaging in inappropriate behavior with women and nuns while on video calls, and consuming cigarettes and alcohol. This unbecoming lifestyle, hidden behind their robes, has caused even the investigating officers considerable astonishment.

At the end of the three days spent in Bangkok, before returning to Sri Lanka, this group was given twenty-two suitcases by a Sri Lankan they met there. All these suitcases were of the same shape, somewhat large, and came in various colors. The Sri Lankan told the individuals in monastic robes that these suitcases contained school supplies, toffees, chocolates, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, razors, and other items intended as gifts for low-income children studying in remote schools in Sri Lanka. However, they were strictly instructed not to open these suitcases for any reason. Furthermore, it has been revealed that the individual in monastic robes who orchestrated the operation, residing in the Meegahawatta area, had instructed them to hand over the suitcases to a person who would arrive in a vehicle after they exited Katunayake Airport.

With Thailand lifting the ban on the sale and distribution of cannabis-related products, Sri Lanka Customs and the Police Narcotics Bureau had been closely monitoring 'Kush' and 'Hash' drug trafficking operations centered in Bangkok. Meanwhile, the Katunayake Airport unit of the Police Narcotics Bureau received specific confidential information in advance that drugs were hidden in the luggage of a group of monks on a flight arriving in Sri Lanka from Bangkok. Accordingly, intelligence officers closely watched these twenty-two individuals in monastic robes who arrived at Katunayake Airport from Bangkok on Thai Air Asia flight FD 140 at around 10:10 PM on the twenty-fifth of last month. Suspecting the identical nature of their luggage, officers immediately took steps to subject the group to a special inspection.

During the rigorous inspection, officers observed that the suitcases, which outwardly contained school supplies and sweets, had cleverly constructed false compartments at the bottom. Upon opening these false compartments, they discovered one hundred and one kilograms of 'Kush' and over ten kilograms of 'Hash' or hashish drugs hidden inside. In total, this consignment of over one hundred and twelve kilograms of drugs was systematically packed, with each individual's suitcase containing more than five kilograms. During police questioning, the individuals in monastic robes stated that although they had some suspicion about the suitcases, they did not give it much thought and were completely unaware that such a large quantity of drugs was hidden inside.

The individual in monastic robes who acted as the mastermind of this massive drug trafficking operation, residing at a meditation center in Meegahawatta, Gampaha, attempted to flee and hide upon learning that the rest of the group had been arrested in Katunayake. However, a special police team, operating under the direction of Deputy Inspector General of Police Ashoka Dharmasena of the Police Narcotics Bureau, succeeded in arresting him in the Meegahawatta area on the afternoon of the twenty-sixth. A broad operation has already been launched to identify other traffickers and sponsors involved in this operation. Further investigations have revealed that the three individuals in monastic robes residing at the temple in Madapatha, who were involved in this trip, had traveled to Thailand on several previous occasions, and that a group of twelve other monks had been sent to Thailand and brought back in the same manner last month, with plans to send another group in the upcoming May. The police strongly suspect that these individuals may have brought drugs into the country in the past by exploiting the ability to exit the airport without any inspection, under the guise of their robes.

After the twenty-two young individuals in monastic robes arrested at Katunayake Airport and the chief individual in monastic robes who orchestrated the operation, along with other suspects, were produced before the Negombo Magistrate's Court, Negombo Additional Magistrate Ms. Subhani Abeysekera granted permission to detain and question them under the custody of the Police Narcotics Bureau for seven days until May 2nd. Attorneys Tharindu Wickramanayake, Buddhi Udara, Sachith Welgama, and Namal Wanigasuriya appeared before the court on behalf of the suspect individuals in monastic robes, acting on the instructions of Attorneys Dulisha Wijesuriya, Senior Attorney Nelson Kumaranayake, and Senior Attorney Ajith Pathirana. Further extensive investigations into this incident are currently underway under the direct supervision of Attorney General Priyantha Weerasuriya, as per the instructions of Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police Ranmal Kodithuwakku, who is in charge of the Police Narcotics Bureau, and under the direction of Deputy Inspector General of Police Ashoka Dharmasena.