Sri Lanka seizes largest cocaine haul at main airport
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's customs authorities arrested today a woman and seized the largest haul of cocaine ever detected at the country's main international airport, an official said.
The unnamed 38-year-old Thai woman was carrying nearly 10kg of cocaine stuffed into three soft toys, Customs additional director-general Seevali Arukgoda said.
"This is the biggest attempt at cocaine smuggling stopped by Sri Lanka Customs at the airport," Arukgoda said.
Customs officials at Bandaranaike International Airport posed for photos with the cocaine, which had been neatly stuffed into just over 500 plastic capsules, with an estimated street value of US$1.72 million.
The seizure follows three other hauls this month totalling nearly 60kg of synthetic cannabis.
Three foreign nationals -- from Britain, India, and Thailand -- were arrested in separate cases.
The Briton, identified as Charlotte May Lee, 21, a former cabin crew member from London, was produced before a magistrate yesterday and further remanded until June 13, court officials said.
She was arrested on May 12 when officials discovered that her two suitcases were packed with 46kg of kush, a synthetic drug.
All four suspects, including the Thai woman arrested today, could face life imprisonment if convicted.
Sri Lankan authorities have previously seized large quantities of heroin off the country's shores, suggesting the island is being used as a transit hub for narcotics destined for other locations.
In October, a Sri Lankan court sentenced 10 Iranian men to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to smuggling more than 111kg of heroin. In 2023, nine Iranians received life sentences in a separate drug smuggling case.
Sri Lanka's largest single seizure of narcotics occurred in December 2016, when Customs found 800kg of cocaine in a transhipment container of timber addressed to a company in neighbouring India. — AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
Separate accidents claim lives of two men in Kuala Krai
KUALA KRAI: Two men were killed in separate accidents involving heavy machinery here this evening, said Kuala Krai district police chief Supt Mazlan Mamat. Mazlan said in the first incident at about 2.50 pm, a Thai national, aged 49, was killed after the backhoe he was driving fell off a cliff in the Ladang Dabong area, near Kilometre 27 of Jalan Sungai Sam-Dabong. 'At the time of the accident, the victim was driving the backhoe to take a break and was passing through a hilly area. 'The backhoe skidded and fell off the cliff, causing the victim to be thrown out and subsequently crushed by the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene,' Mazlin said in a statement today. He said the accident is believed to have been caused by the driver's negligence, having failed to control the vehicle being driven, causing it to fall off the cliff. Meanwhile, in another accident at about 3.30 pm, a 59-year-old man was killed in Ladang Bonanza, Laloh after a bulldozer he was driving fell down a ravine. 'Initial investigations found that the victim was working in the plantation and operating the bulldozer to make terraces. 'While doing terrace work, the bulldozer slipped off its path and fell into a ravine about 100 metres deep,' he said. He also said the victim who was trapped in the machine was pronounced dead at the scene, and the accident is believed to have been caused after the victim lost control of the bulldozer. 'The bodies of both victims were sent to the Sultan Ismail Petra Hospital's forensics unit for post-mortems, and the cases are being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987,' he added. The police are urging anyone with information regarding the accidents to come forward and provide information to the Traffic Police Station at the Kuala Krai district police headquarters (IPD) or contact the Investigating Officer, Insp Mohamad Amirul Izham Azlan at 09-9666222.
Barnama
5 hours ago
- Barnama
Separate Accidents Claim Lives Of Two Men In Kuala Krai
KUALA KRAI, May 31 (Bernama) – Two men were killed in separate accidents involving heavy machinery here this evening, said Kuala Krai district police chief Supt Mazlan Mamat. Mazlan said in the first incident at about 2.50 pm, a Thai national, aged 49, was killed after the backhoe he was driving fell off a cliff in the Ladang Dabong area, near Kilometre 27 of Jalan Sungai Sam-Dabong. "At the time of the accident, the victim was driving the backhoe to take a break and was passing through a hilly area. "The backhoe skidded and fell off the cliff, causing the victim to be thrown out and subsequently crushed by the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene," Mazlin said in a statement today. He said the accident is believed to have been caused by the driver's negligence, having failed to control the vehicle being driven, causing it to fall off the cliff. Meanwhile, in another accident at about 3.30 pm, a 59-year-old man was killed in Ladang Bonanza, Laloh after a bulldozer he was driving fell down a ravine. "Initial investigations found that the victim was working in the plantation and operating the bulldozer to make terraces. "While doing terrace work, the bulldozer slipped off its path and fell into a ravine about 100 metres deep," he said. He also said the victim who was trapped in the machine was pronounced dead at the scene, and the accident is believed to have been caused after the victim lost control of the bulldozer.
The Star
11 hours ago
- The Star
Over 1.9 million stimulant tablets and 134 kg of heroin worth US$2.9 billion seized in Myanmar
YANGON: Authorities have seized over 1.9 million stimulant tablets and 134 kilograms of heroin worth Ks 6 billion (US$2.9 billion) in a significant anti-drug operation conducted in Leiway Township, within the Nay Pyi Taw Council area, which have been transported from Shan state to Mandalay Region. According to a tip off, security forces discovered more than 1.9 million stimulant tablets and 134 kilograms of heroin worth Ks 6 billion from a 12-wheeled Fuso and a Chevrolet on May 20. Further investigation led the arrests of Thet Htto Maung who transferred the heroin near Aung Nan Cho village near Leiway Township at the Pankhin Hotel on May 21. Pawlu aka Pawluchan from Phekhon and Soe Lwin and Thein San Tun aka Kalalay were also arrested. The Myanmar Police Force stated that efforts are ongoing to identify other individuals involved in the drug trafficking network and trace the financial assets linked to the illegal trade. - Eleven Media/ANN
