A Kenyan national was arrested at Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake along with 4 kilograms of cocaine worth around 300 million Sri Lankan rupees (KES 136.7 million), Sri Lankan news outlet Ada Derana reported Monday.
The 26-year-old passenger, who arrived from Ethiopia, was arrested Sunday night at the arrival terminal by officers from the Sri Lanka Customs narcotics control unit, according to Ada Derana.
The suspect, identified as a Kenyan car dealer, had reportedly traveled from Addis Ababa to Doha, Qatar on Qatar Airways flight 654 bound for Sri Lanka, Ada Derana reported.
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Customs officers said 180 capsules containing 4 kilograms of cocaine were found concealed inside three metal cookie tins in his hand luggage, according to the report.
Officers arrested the man while he was attempting to exit through the “Green Channel” at the airport based on foreign intelligence received by the Sri Lanka Customs narcotics control unit, Ada Derana reported.
The arrested Kenyan passenger was handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau at the airport along with the drugs for further investigation, according to the report. It was his first visit to Sri Lanka.
