Buddhist monks arrested in Thailand airport with record drug haul

Twenty-two monks from Sri Lanka have been detained at an international airport in Thailand after authorities discovered more than 110 kilograms of cannabis in their possession.

The incident occurred on April 26 during a security inspection at the airport. The group had returned from a four-day trip to Bangkok. The drugs, believed to be of the “Kush” variety, were concealed in their luggage, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

A customs spokesperson said each of the detained individuals was found carrying around five kilograms of the substance, hidden in specially prepared compartments inside suitcases. All suspects have been handed over to the police and are expected to appear in court.

Authorities added that most of those arrested are young monastery students from different regions of Sri Lanka, and the trip was financed by a businessman.

Officials described the seizure as the largest quantity of this type of narcotic ever confiscated at the country’s international airport.

Previous cases of large-scale drug trafficking involving cocaine and heroin have also been recorded in Sri Lanka, including routes through both air and sea transport.

By Jeyhun Aghazada