A 64-year-old South Korean national has been arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for allegedly possessing a consignment of cocaine valued at approximately Rs. 49.44 million.
The suspect, identified as a South Korean carpenter, was taken into custody this afternoon (November 1) by officers of the Airport Police Narcotics Bureau when he arrived to collect an unclaimed piece of luggage at the airport.
According to police, the suspect had travelled from Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia to Dubai on October 26 before proceeding to Katunayake with the consignment of narcotics.
However, the luggage containing the drugs had not arrived on the same flight as the suspect. It was subsequently transported to the BIA on a separate aircraft.
Police stated that the arrest was made based on intelligence information received by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) regarding the suspected drug consignment.
Further investigations into the incident are underway.
