Sri Lankan authorities have detained 22 Buddhist monks at Bandaranaike International Airport after customs officials discovered 110 kilograms (243 pounds) of cannabis hidden in their luggage.
The group was stopped on April 26, 2026, upon returning from a trip to Thailand, in what officials describe as the largest such drug seizure in the airport’s history.
According to customs reports, officers identified suspicious baggage during routine inspections and uncovered false compartments containing tightly packed cannabis.
Each individual was allegedly carrying approximately five kilograms of the potent Kush strain. Authorities have placed the suspects on a seven-day remand as investigations continue into whether they were acting as part of a larger trafficking network.
Officials said the scale and method of concealment suggest coordination beyond a simple personal-use case.
Investigators are probing potential international links and examining how the drugs were sourced and transported. The seizure has drawn heightened scrutiny because of the suspects’ religious attire, which authorities believe may have been used to avoid suspicion.
Senior Buddhist leaders in Sri Lanka have publicly distanced themselves from the group, describing them as “imposter monks” who misused religious robes to conceal criminal activity.
Religious authorities emphasized that such actions violate both the law and the moral principles of the Buddhist clergy, which holds significant cultural influence in the country.
The incident has sparked widespread public reaction. Many social media users expressed disbelief and irony at the nature of the case, with humorous comments circulating online. Others raised concerns about the potential damage to the reputation of legitimate monks and religious institutions.
Sri Lanka maintains strict drug laws, and trafficking large quantities of narcotics carries severe penalties.
Cannabis remains illegal in most contexts under Sri Lankan law, although limited medicinal cultivation has been discussed in recent years. The country has also increased airport security and customs surveillance amid efforts to curb transnational drug smuggling….See More
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