Smuggler Caught with Cocaine Worth Rs. 40 Million at Sri Lanka Airport

In a major drug bust at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Colombo, Sri Lankan authorities apprehended a Sierra Leonean man who attempted to smuggle cocaine into the country by swallowing 59 pellets, each containing the illegal substance. The total value of the drugs has been estimated at over Rs. 40 million.

The 32-year-old suspect arrived on Turkish Airlines flight TK730 from Istanbul on the morning of Tuesday, November 19. Upon disembarking, he made his way to the airport’s green channel—an area designated for passengers with nothing to declare. However, his movements raised suspicion, and Customs officers decided to stop him for further questioning.

According to Customs Spokesman and Additional Director General Seevali Arukgoda, the passenger’s behavior seemed unusual, prompting the officers to act. The suspect was immediately taken into custody by the Customs Narcotics Control Unit, stationed at the airport’s Arrival Terminal. His suspicious actions during the customs screening led officers to believe he was involved in illicit activity, potentially smuggling narcotics into the country.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Customs officials promptly transferred the passenger to Negombo Hospital, where doctors could assist in retrieving the swallowed drug packets. Initially, 17 pellets of cocaine were recovered throughout the course of Tuesday, but it quickly became apparent that the suspect had ingested a far larger quantity.

A senior officer from the Customs Narcotics Division revealed to the Daily Mirror that, after further questioning, the suspect admitted to swallowing a total of 59 pellets, all containing cocaine. This confession prompted authorities to request a court order to allow continued retrieval of the narcotics, which required close cooperation with hospital staff and medical professionals. By late evening, a total of 56 pellets had been successfully extracted, containing almost one kilogram of cocaine.

Each pellet was carefully examined, and the total street value of the cocaine was determined to be Rs. 40 million. A gram of the drug holds a market value of approximately Rs. 40,000 in Sri Lanka, a country that has been struggling with rising drug trafficking issues in recent years. The suspect’s attempt to smuggle such a significant amount of narcotics into Sri Lanka underscores the growing challenge faced by the authorities in controlling the flow of illegal drugs into the country.

Initial investigations revealed that this was the Sierra Leonean’s first trip to Sri Lanka, and he had been paid to act as a drug mule. Drug mules are individuals who are recruited by organized criminal syndicates to transport narcotics across international borders, often under duress or financial incentives. It is believed that the suspect was supposed to meet a local operative upon his arrival, who would have facilitated the next stage of the drug trafficking operation.

Authorities are particularly concerned about the growing trend of drug trafficking in Sri Lanka, as it has become a key transit point for international drug syndicates looking to distribute illicit substances throughout the region. Investigations into the suspect’s connections have revealed that he is linked to another Sierra Leonean man who was apprehended by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) just a week earlier. This second individual was caught with a large shipment of cocaine at the Pinnaduwa Interchange on the Southern Expressway, which has raised concerns about a broader smuggling network operating in and out of Sri Lanka.

Customs and PNB officers are now working together to piece together the larger operation, focusing on identifying other members of the syndicate. According to law enforcement officials, these operations often involve intricate international networks with links to drug suppliers in South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. The arrest of the Sierra Leonean man at BIA is part of a broader effort by Sri Lankan authorities to combat the growing drug trade, with a particular emphasis on intercepting narcotics before they reach the streets.

The Sri Lanka Customs Department, alongside the Police Narcotics Bureau, has ramped up efforts to improve screening processes at major entry points, including airports and seaports, in order to detect and prevent the smuggling of drugs. With drug-related crimes on the rise, officials have stressed the importance of vigilance and cooperation between different law enforcement agencies.

As of now, the arrested suspect remains in custody, and further investigations are ongoing to uncover the full extent of the smuggling operation. The authorities are hopeful that this arrest will lead to further breakthroughs in dismantling the criminal syndicates involved in trafficking cocaine and other illicit substances into the country.