Alleged mastermind behind the Rs. 1.1 billion drug haul detained

Negombo Additional Magistrate Subhani Abeysekera ordered that another suspect monk, Agunukole Amithananda of the Sri Lankarama Viharaya in Rammuthugala, Kadawatha, be detained and questioned until May 02.

The suspect reportedly waited at Katunayake Airport to receive a stock of illegal drugs brought from Thailand.

Investigating officers informed the court that the monk was present at the airport to collect the narcotics at the time the young monks transporting the substances were arrested.

Upon the arrest of the other monks, the suspect fled the airport and hid in the Miriswatta area, where several investigation teams eventually apprehended him during an operation.

Sub-Inspector Rajapaksa of the Colombo Police Narcotic Bureau stated in court that medical reports for the suspect returned positive, indicating he was under the influence of drugs at the time of the incident.

Ongoing investigations revealed that the WhatsApp group used to coordinate the trip to Thailand for the young monks was managed by this suspect.

The court granted permission to detain and interrogate him further under Section 54 of the Narcotics Prevention Act.