On Sunday, 22 Sri Lankan monks returned from Thailand were arrested at the international airport. They were caught with a staggering 242 pounds of cannabis, specifically a potent strain known as Kush. According to a Sri Lanka Customs spokesman, each monk had about five kilos of the drug hidden in their luggage.
The group, mainly young students from various temples, was on a holiday funded by a local businessman. This incident marks the largest cannabis seizure at the country’s main airport to date.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first high-profile drug case at this airport. Last May, British traveler Charlotte May Lee was arrested with 101 pounds of cannabis, claiming she had no knowledge of the drugs. In 2025, customs took down a Thai woman with 22 pounds of cocaine hidden inside plush toys, the largest cocaine bust in Sri Lanka’s history.
Reports show that drug smuggling has increased in recent years in Sri Lanka. Authorities have seized heroin and other narcotics smuggled via fishing boats as well. Known for its strict regulations, the country has seen a pattern of drug-related crimes involving monks. For instance, in 2022, a temple in central Thailand defrocked all its monks after they tested positive for methamphetamine.
According to the World Drug Report 2023, global cannabis use has increased over the last decade, particularly among younger populations. This reveals a troubling trend as communities that value religious integrity, like the monasteries, also find themselves vulnerable to drug issues.
Experts believe this rise in drug use among religious figures can be linked to increasing stress and societal pressures. A Buddhist monk from Thailand emphasized the need for mindfulness practices to prevent such issues: “We must foster a sense of awareness and community support to combat the allure of substances.”
As the drug crisis evolves, incidents like these highlight the need for comprehensive strategies to address drug-related problems, not just within the monasteries but in broader society as well.
For more on drug detection and prevention efforts, you can check out the Sri Lanka Customs website.
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Sri Lanka, Cannabis
