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New Indian Express
3 days ago
- New Indian Express
Sri Lanka seizes largest cocaine haul at main airport
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's customs authorities arrested on Friday 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 10 kilogrammes (22 pounds) 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 in a statement. 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 $1.72 million. The seizure follows three other hauls this month totalling nearly 60 kilogrammes 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 on Friday 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 46 kilogrammes of kush, a synthetic drug. All four suspects, including the Thai woman arrested on Friday, 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 111 kilogrammes 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 800 kilogramme (1,760 pounds) of cocaine in a transhipment container of timber addressed to a company in neighbouring India.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Sri Lanka customs make record cocaine bust at main airport
Representative Image Sri Lankan customs officials arrested a woman on Friday after seizing the largest quantity of cocaine ever intercepted at the country's main international airport. The suspect is a 38-year-old Thai national whose identity has not been disclosed. They were found carrying nearly 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of cocaine concealed inside three soft toys, according to Customs Additional Director-General Seevali Arukgoda. 'This is the biggest attempt at cocaine smuggling stopped by Sri Lanka Customs at the airport,' Arukgoda said. The cocaine was packed into over 500 plastic capsules and was discovered at Bandaranaike International Airport. The capsules are estimated to have a street value of $1.72 million. Customs officers posed with the seized drugs in official photos following the operation. This bust comes amid a series of recent drug interceptions in Sri Lanka. Earlier in the month, customs officials confiscated nearly 60 kilograms of synthetic cannabis across three separate incidents. These led to the arrests of three foreign nationals from the UK, India, and Thailand. The Thai woman apprehended on Friday could face life imprisonment if convicted under Sri Lanka's drug laws. Sri Lanka has previously made major narcotics seizures, especially off its coast. In one high-profile case last October, a Sri Lankan court sentenced 10 Iranian nationals to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to smuggling over 111 kilograms of heroin. A similar case in 2023 saw nine other Iranians sentenced to life for drug trafficking. The country's largest-ever single narcotics seizure occurred in December 2016, when customs discovered 800 kilograms (1,760 pounds) of cocaine hidden in a timber shipment addressed to a company in neighboring India.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
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
