Sierra Leone national arrested with Rs. 13 m worth cocaine at BIA

Thursday, 14 November 2024 01:42 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

In a major drug trafficking bust, officers attached to the Narcotics Control Unit at the Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday arrested a 32-year old Sierra Leone national on suspension of smuggling, who had 17 capsules of swallowed cocaine valued at Rs. 13 million.

The passenger who arrived via Istanbul on Turkish Airline flight TK 730 was apprehended after attempting to pass through the airport’s green channel.

Sri Lanka Customs Spokesman Seewali Arukgoda said suspicious of the individual’s behaviour the officers conducted a body scan in the Customs area, revealing that the suspect has concealed narcotics within his body. The individual was immediately transferred to Negombo Hospital, where medical personnel have since retrieved 17 pellets of cocaine.

The suspect has reportedly confessed that additional pellets remain in his stomach.

He said preliminary estimates place the street value of the seized narcotics at around Rs. 13 million. The recovered pellets, along with the suspect have been handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau for detailed investigation.

Sri Lanka Customs’ Narcotics Control Unit is collaborating with the Police Narcotics Bureau to trace the origin and intended distribution network of the drugs.