A Kenyan national was on Sunday, September 24 arrested with 4 kilograms of cocaine, estimated to be worth around Ksh136 million (Rs. 300 million).
He was found to be in possession of 180 capsules of cocaine, weighing 4 kg, that were found concealed inside three metal cookie tins inside his hand luggage.
It was not immediately established how he bypassed tight airport security with the drugs.
The Police stated the suspect was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in Katunayake after having arrived from Ethiopia.
The suspect, who is said to be a Kenyan car dealer, had reportedly traveled from Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa to Doha in Qatar and had then boarded a Qatar Airways flight (QR 654) bound for Sri Lanka.
The 26-year-old Kenyan was arrested at the arrival terminal by officials of the Sri Lanka Customs narcotics control unit.
By the time of this publication, the Kenyan national had been handed over to officers of the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) at the BIA along with the seized drugs for further investigations.
Kenyan authorities are yet to issue a statement on the case.
