Sri Lanka Customs officers have seized a consignment of cannabis and hashish worth approximately Rs. 157 million, which was allegedly smuggled into the country from Thailand by concealing the drugs inside wooden table components.

The drugs were discovered during an inspection of suspicious packages imported into Sri Lanka as a gift. The packages, containing what appeared to be parts of tables, were examined at a Customs warehouse in Peliyagoda.

According to Customs officials, the drugs had been carefully concealed inside the wooden boards to evade detection.

The seizure included 2,428 grams of cannabis, valued at Rs. 24 million, and 12,372 grams of hashish, valued at Rs. 133 million.

A 29-year-old suspect from Ragama was also taken into Customs custody in connection with the incident.

The suspicious consignment was identified by M.K.R. Kumara, the Deputy Director of Customs attached to the Passenger Services Division, under the instructions of the Senior Director of Customs (Passenger Services).

Officers from the Passenger Services Division, together with the Customs Narcotics Control Unit, subsequently seized the drugs.

The suspect and the seized narcotics are expected to be handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau for further investigations.