Sri Lanka Customs scored a major breakthrough at Katunayake Airport as its newly installed scanner at the ‘Green Channel’ intercepted a foreign passenger smuggling Kush valued at Rs. 105 million — marking the first arrest using the advanced machine.
A 43-year-old Indian national, employed as a salesman at a shoe store in New Delhi, was arrested yesterday morning (05) while attempting to smuggle the narcotics through the Arrivals Terminal’s ‘Green Channel’, where items do not require declaration.
According to Customs officials, the man had purchased the consignment of Kush in Bangkok, Thailand, before flying to New Delhi. From there, he arrived at Katunayake Airport on Air India flight AI-277, which landed at 7.45 am.
During the inspection, Customs officers uncovered 19 packets of Kush weighing 10 kilograms and 750 grams concealed in his baggage. The swift detection was made possible by the recently installed scanner at the Green Channel, highlighting its effectiveness in combating narcotics smuggling.
This seizure represents a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s fight against international drug trafficking, as the Green Channel has previously been considered a low-risk passageway.
The suspect and the seized Kush were handed over to the Katunayake Airport Police Narcotics Bureau for further investigations. Officials emphasized that the advanced scanner will now play a critical role in detecting smuggling attempts and strengthening airport security operations.
