Katunayake – August 3, 2025 — In one of the largest drug seizures in recent months, Sri Lankan authorities at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) have arrested two Indian nationals attempting to smuggle over 8 kilograms of “Kush,” a potent strain of cannabis, into the country.
Customs officers at the airport detected the narcotics during a routine luggage scan on Friday evening. The suspects, aged 28 and 33, had arrived on a commercial flight from Chennai and were apprehended at the Green Channel after officers noticed irregularities in their baggage.
According to airport sources, the Kush was tightly packed in vacuum-sealed bags and concealed within layers of clothing and personal items. The total street value of the seized narcotics is estimated to exceed Rs. 20 million.
“This seizure is a clear indication that international drug networks are using regional airports like BIA as entry points. Our teams acted on intelligence and conducted a highly coordinated inspection,” a senior Customs official told reporters.
Both suspects are currently in the custody of the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB), which is conducting further investigations to determine whether the men were couriers for a larger trafficking operation with connections inside Sri Lanka.
Kush, a genetically engineered hybrid strain of cannabis, is particularly sought after in urban drug markets due to its high THC content. Though cannabis cultivation and use remain illegal under Sri Lankan law, the island has seen a rise in imports of high-grade variants from India and other nearby regions.
Airport security has been stepped up in response to the bust, with customs officers intensifying inspections on passengers arriving from high-risk destinations.
Officials said the suspects will be produced before a magistrate in Negombo, and face multiple charges under the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance. If convicted, they could face lengthy prison sentences.
Authorities added that the seizure is part of a broader crackdown on narcotics trafficking networks operating between South Asia and Sri Lanka, with additional arrests expected in the coming days.
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