2 businessmen including ‘Haji’ behind drug ring using monks

The Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) says that according to intelligence units, 02 individuals posing as businessmen in Sri Lanka, including one known as ‘Haji’, is behind a drug trafficking operation in which individuals in monastic saffron robes were allegedly used to transport narcotics.

Accordingly, 22 individuals in saffron robes who had returned to Sri Lanka following a tour to Thailand on April 25 were arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake, in possession of 112 kg of narcotics, including “Kush” and “Hashish”.

The suspects are currently being detained and questioned by the PNB.

When produced before the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) yesterday (April 28), it was revealed that 19 of them had used cannabis.

Investigations further revealed that in March, another group of 12 individuals in saffron robes had been taken to Thailand by the same network, and the narcotics brought back at the time had allegedly been transported to a house in Athurugiriya.

The owner of the house has since been arrested, according to PNB officers.

Police also revealed that arrangements had been made to send around 40 individuals in saffron robes on a similar tour to Thailand in May.

Further investigations uncovered that a monk named Amithananda, believed to have coordinated the operation locally, had arrived at the BIA on the day of the arrests to collect the consignment but had fled after learning of the drug bust.

He was later arrested while hiding at a temple in the Gampaha area. It was also revealed that he was under the influence of a narcotic substance at the time of his arrest.

Investigations are underway under the direct supervision of Senior DIG Ranmal Kodituwakku and under the direction of DIG Ashoka Dharmasena.