CrimeGeneralHOTMonday, April 27, 2026

Senior Monk Detained in Connection with Major Airport Drug Bust

TLDR

Senior monk Agunukolaye Amitananda Thero arrested for orchestrating 112kg drug bust.
23 monks remanded until May 12 over 112kg narcotics from Thailand.
Bangkok kingpin, FEB employee, and 4 others linked to the major drug network.
19 monks tested positive for cannabis; Interpol sought for suspects abroad.

A senior monk, Venerable Agunukolaye Amitananda Thero, was ordered to be detained for seven days until May 2nd by Negombo Additional Magistrate Subhani Abeysekera. The monk, affiliated with the Kadawatha Rammuthugala Sri Lankaramaya Viharaya, is accused of aiding and abetting the transportation of narcotics from Thailand to Sri Lanka. He is alleged to have directed 22 young monks who were previously arrested at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), Katunayake, with over 110 kilograms of narcotics. Investigations revealed that Venerable Amitananda Thero was reportedly present at the airport to receive the drug shipment and fled the scene following the initial arrests, later being found in hiding.

8 Updates

Update #9\u00b7 May 2 · 4:50 PM

The 23 monks arrested in connection with the drug bust have been remanded until May 12. They were produced before the Negombo Magistrate's Court on May 02.

Update #8\u00b7 May 2 · 1:06 PM

The 22 monks arrested at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) with 112 kg of Kush and Hashish have been remanded until May 12 by the Negombo Magistrate's Court. They were produced before the court on May 02, following their apprehension on April 25. Investigations continue to confirm that Senior Monk Amithananda Thero orchestrated the operation and was subsequently arrested hiding in a temple in the Gampaha area.

Update #7\u00b7 May 2 · 9:03 AM

The 22 monks arrested at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) with 112 kg of Kush and Hashish (valued over Rs. 110 million) were produced before the Negombo Magistrate's Court again today (May 02). Investigations have further confirmed that Amithananda Thero allegedly orchestrated the smuggling operation and was reportedly arrested hiding in a temple in the Gampaha area. The monks are scheduled to be produced in court again tomorrow (May 03).

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