An Indian national has been taken into custody by Sri Lanka Customs officers at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake, along with a haul of cocaine and ecstasy pills, with an estimated total street value of around Rs. 454 million.
The narcotics were discovered in the suspect's possession by officers from the Sri Lanka Customs Narcotics Control Unit during an inspection conducted today (28) at the Katunayake Airport.
The 46-year-old Indian national, an engineer by profession, had reportedly arrived in the country from Paris via Doha.
The passenger has been detained by officers of the Customs Narcotics Control Unit for further investigation.
The narcotics were discovered during an examination of the passenger's luggage, and subsequent testing confirmed them to be cocaine and ecstasy pills.
The seized haul includes 5.121 kilograms of cocaine, which has an estimated street value of Rs. 256 million and a consignment of the ecstasy pills weighing 13.173 kilograms—amounting to nearly 23,000 pills. The estimated street value of the pills is Rs. 198 million.
Sri Lanka Customs is conducting preliminary investigations into the incident. The suspect, the seized narcotics, and other relevant case evidence are to be handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) for further investigation and legal proceedings.
