Sri Lankan authorities arrested 22 Buddhist monks at Colombo International Airport for allegedly carrying more than 110 kilograms of cannabis. Officials said the group had returned from Thailand, and each suitcase contained over five kilograms of the illegal substance. The operation was conducted based on intelligence from a confidential source, marking the largest drug seizure ever recorded at the airport.

Police reported that the drugs were hidden inside the monks’ luggage. The seized cannabis is valued at more than 3.45 million US dollars. Sri Lanka enforces strict penalties for drug-related crimes, including indefinite detention without charge and lengthy prison sentences upon conviction.

According to the Daily News, this is the first time Buddhist monks have been arrested at the airport for possessing illegal drugs, highlighting an unprecedented incident in the country’s ongoing efforts to combat narcotics trafficking.