A foreign passenger attempting to smuggle a consignment of ‘Kush’ cannabis, estimated to be valued at Rs. 217.79 million, into Sri Lanka was arrested by officers of the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) in the early hours today (April 3).

The suspect has been identified as a 42-year-old Canadian national employed as a building contractor by profession, said Ada Derana reporter.

According to Customs officials, he had purchased the consignment of ‘Kush’ cannabis in Bangkok, Thailand, traveled to Hong Kong, and arrived at BIA on Cathay Pacific flight CX 611 at 12:30 a.m. today.

The narcotics, weighing 21 kilograms and 779 grams, had been meticulously packed in 20 packets and concealed within his two travel bags, Sri Lanka Customs said.

The suspect, along with the seized drugs, is to be produced before the Negombo Magistrate’s Court today to obtain a detention order.

Subsequently, the individual will be handed over to the PNB Headquarters in Colombo for further investigation.