The Sri Lankan authorities have arrested 22 people identified as Buddhist monks at Bandaranaike International Airport after discovering more than 110 kilograms of cannabis concealed in their luggage. Officials have described the bust as the largest drug seizure in the airport’s history.
Police said the group of Sri Lankans had returned from Bangkok on the evening of 25 April, having departed Sri Lanka on 22 April using airline tickets allegedly arranged by a sponsor. The suspects went before Negombo Magistrate’s Court, where they were remanded in custody until 2 May.
Officials said the cannabis, identified as kush and hashish forms, had been concealed inside modified suitcases. “Each carried about five kilos of the narcotic concealed within false walls in their luggage,” said a Sri Lanka Customs spokesperson. (CBS News)
The authorities added that the bags had also been packed with school supplies and sweets, and estimated the drug haul to have a street value exceeding US$3.38 million.
Police stated that most of those arrested were young monks from temples and educational institutions across Sri Lanka. Investigators also noted that some suspects had been photographed in civilian clothing while abroad, raising further questions about their activities.
Conflicting media reports have suggested that some or all of those involved may not be ordained monks. One local report described the suspects as “men disguised as Buddhist monks,” highlighting concern that criminal networks may be exploiting religious identity to evade detection. (Daily FT)
In response, the Mahanayaka Theros—senior leaders of Sri Lanka’s three principal monastic communities—issued a joint statement condemning the incident. They described those involved as “monk impersonators” and denounced the “misus[e]” of the saffron robe for criminal purposes, and called for a full investigation and stricter oversight within religious institutions. (Ada Derana)
The Theros emphasized that such actions were “anti-Sasana” and had damaged the historical role and public trust of the Buddhist monastic community. (Ada Derana) They called for legal action against those responsible and urged the authorities to dismantle wider trafficking networks that may have recruited or influenced young monastics.
The statement also highlighted the need for greater vigilance within monasteries, urging senior monks and teachers to monitor younger members and take appropriate action where misconduct was suspected.
This is not the first time that Buddhist monastics have been arrested for breaking drug laws. In Thailand, four monks were caught with methamphetamines in a 2022 crackdown.* In Myanmar, a monk was arrested in 2017 after being caught with more than four million methamphetamine pills.
The Sri Lankan authorities said investigations were ongoing to determine the origin of the drugs, the financing behind the operation, and whether additional individuals were connected with the case. Officials also noted that this was the first large-scale narcotics seizure at the airport involving individuals wearing monastic robes.
The case has drawn widespread public attention in Sri Lanka, where Buddhism plays a central cultural and social role, and has raised broader concerns about the intersection of religious identity, youth vulnerability, and transnational drug trafficking.
* Buddhist Temple in Thailand Left Empty After Monks Test Positive for Drugs (BDG)
See more
22 Buddhist monks arrested at airport after record drug bust (CBS News)
Monk arrested over massive hoard of meth pills (CBS News)
22 Buddhist monks found with 110kg of drugs on Bangkok flight, police say (Yahoo News)
Rs. 1.1 b drug haul seized at BIA; 22 men disguised as monks arrested in record bust (Daily FT)
Mahanayaka Theros strongly condemn misuse of Buddhist robe by ‘monk impersonators’ (Ada Derana)
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