Latest news with #SeevaliArukgoda
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
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Ex-flight attendant reportedly caught with 101 pounds of drugs in luggage
Sri Lankan authorities have seized nearly 60 kilograms of potent synthetic cannabis that foreigners tried to smuggle in this month in three separate cases, a customs official said Saturday. The majority of the drugs were reportedly seized from a former flight attendant from England who authorties say had over 100 pounds of the drug in her suitcases. The South Asian island has long been considered a transit point for international drug smugglers, and all three suspects — from Britain, India and Thailand — could face life imprisonment if convicted. The 21-year-old British woman was arrested on May 12, with customs officers saying she was stopped with 46 kilograms (101 pounds) of kush — a synthetic drug containing powerful opioids — packed in two suitcases. "This could be the biggest drug bust at the Colombo airport in recent times," said Customs Additional Director General Seevali Arukgoda. British media, including the BBC, have identified the woman as Charlotte May Lee, a former cabin crew member from London, who had flown to Sri Lanka from Thailand. She is being held in detention at a prison near Colombo airport and is contact with her family, her lawyer told the BBC. The BBC reported that she denied knowledge of drugs in her luggage, and claimed they were planted at her hotel in Bangkok. Her legal representative, Sampath Perera, told the BBC that his team was visiting her daily in prison to provide support and monitor her wellbeing. "I had never seen them [the drugs] before. I didn't expect it all when they pulled me over at the airport. I thought it was going to be filled with all my stuff," Lee told the Daily Mail from prison. On May 16, a 33-year-old Indian man was arrested at the northern seaport of Kankesanthurai. Arukgoda said that he had been carrying four kilograms of kush. He too has been handed over to the anti-narcotics police for further investigations. On May 18, a 21-year-old Thai man was stopped at Colombo airport. He is accused of attempting to smuggle in nearly eight kilograms of kush. The drug has wreaked havoc in West African countries in recent years, especially in Sierra Leone, te Associated Press reported. In 2014, Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio declared a war on kush, calling it an epidemic and a national threat. Sri Lankan authorities have previously seized large quantities of heroin off its shores, saying it suggested the island is being used as a transit hub for narcotics being reshipped onward. In October, a Sri Lankan court sentenced 10 Iranian men to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to smuggling more than 111 kilograms of heroin. The men were among 17 arrested in Sri Lankan waters in April 2016 while transporting narcotics aboard an Iranian trawler. In 2023, nine Iranians received life sentences in a separate drug smuggling case. Delta Air Lines' 100th year takes flight Trump delivers Memorial Day remarks at Arlington National Cemetery Full interview: Jack McCain on "Face the Nation"
CBS News
6 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Ex-flight attendant allegedly caught with 101 pounds of synthetic drug in her suitcases at Sri Lanka airport, reports say
HealthWatch: Study finds 37% fewer people poisoned by synthetic cannabis in states where drug is leg HealthWatch: Study finds 37% fewer people poisoned by synthetic cannabis in states where drug is leg HealthWatch: Study finds 37% fewer people poisoned by synthetic cannabis in states where drug is leg Sri Lankan authorities have seized nearly 60 kilograms of potent synthetic cannabis that foreigners tried to smuggle in this month in three separate cases, a customs official said Saturday. The majority of the drugs were reportedly seized from a former flight attendant from England who authorties say had over 100 pounds of the drug in her suitcases. The South Asian island has long been considered a transit point for international drug smugglers, and all three suspects — from Britain, India and Thailand — could face life imprisonment if convicted. The 21-year-old British woman was arrested on May 12, with customs officers saying she was stopped with 46 kilograms (101 pounds) of kush — a synthetic drug containing powerful opioids — packed in two suitcases. "This could be the biggest drug bust at the Colombo airport in recent times," said Customs Additional Director General Seevali Arukgoda. British media, including the BBC, have identified the woman as Charlotte May Lee, a former cabin crew member from London, who had flown to Sri Lanka from Thailand. British woman held in Sri Lanka on drug offences — BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) May 23, 2025 She is being held in detention at a prison near Colombo airport and is contact with her family, her lawyer told the BBC. The BBC reported that she denied knowledge of drugs in her luggage, and claimed they were planted at her hotel in Bangkok. Her legal representative, Sampath Perera, told the BBC that his team was visiting her daily in prison to provide support and monitor her wellbeing. "I had never seen them [the drugs] before. I didn't expect it all when they pulled me over at the airport. I thought it was going to be filled with all my stuff," Lee told the Daily Mail from prison. On May 16, a 33-year-old Indian man was arrested at the northern seaport of Kankesanthurai. Arukgoda said that he had been carrying four kilograms of kush. He too has been handed over to the anti-narcotics police for further investigations. On May 18, a 21-year-old Thai man was stopped at Colombo airport. He is accused of attempting to smuggle in nearly eight kilograms of kush. The drug has wreaked havoc in West African countries in recent years, especially in Sierra Leone, te Associated Press reported. In 2014, Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio declared a war on kush, calling it an epidemic and a national threat. Sri Lankan authorities have previously seized large quantities of heroin off its shores, saying it suggested the island is being used as a transit hub for narcotics being reshipped onward. In October, a Sri Lankan court sentenced 10 Iranian men to life imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to smuggling more than 111 kilograms of heroin. The men were among 17 arrested in Sri Lankan waters in April 2016 while transporting narcotics aboard an Iranian trawler. In 2023, nine Iranians received life sentences in a separate drug smuggling case.
