Maldivian arrested with 2kg of heroin in Colombo airport

A Maldivian national was arrested Wednesday at Sri Lanka’s Bandaranaike International Airport while attempting to smuggle 2kg of heroin.

The Sri Lankan police narcotics bureau nabbed the suspect in the departure terminal following a tip-off, Colombo Page reported.

The 2.39kg of heroin seized in the raid was worth US$154,000. The suspect had visited the country on 15 occasions since 2016.

The Minuwangoda Magistrate Court approved a seven-day remand detention for police questioning.

Last week, two Maldivians were arrested in the largest ecstasy bust in Sri Lanka.

Thousands of Maldivians reside in Sri Lanka, with many families relocating in recent years.

In July 2016, two Maldivians were arrested in Colombo with 385g of heroin. According to Sri Lankan media, the pair were “suspected to be major players in a drug racket operating between Pakistan and Maldives through Sri Lanka.”

Six Maldivians were also arrested in Sri Lanka in early 2016 on charges of drug trafficking. The two separate cases involved some 4kg of heroin.