A group of Buddhist monks returning from a spiritual holiday in Thailand were found to be concealing several illicit packages of cultivated enlightenment within their suitcases on Sunday.
On Apr. 26, Sri Lankan police arrested 22 of them at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo after customs officials discovered more than 110 kilograms of Kush amongst the group. They were returning from a four-day, all-expenses-paid holiday in Bangkok sponsored by an unnamed businessman, according to local reports.
Each was holding roughly five kilograms of the potent cannabis strain concealed inside specially modified false walls or bottoms in their suitcases. The flower was packed alongside school supplies and sweets. It had an estimated street value of US$3.5 million.
Customs officers detected the drugs during routine baggage inspection, acting on a tip-off they received. Authorities describe the seizure as the largest single cannabis haul ever recorded at the airport and the first major case involving Buddhist monks in monastic robes.
Police also arrested a 23rd monk, believed to be the organizer, in a Colombo suburb. He allegedly instructed the group that the packages were donations and that a van would collect them after arrival.
The detained monks consist mainly of young students from temples across Sri Lanka. Photos and videos recovered from their phones show them relaxing in casual clothing during the Thailand trip. Senior Buddhist clergy condemned the men as “impostor monks” who exploited religious dress for criminal gain and demanded a full investigation plus stricter oversight of monastic activities.
Local authorities are now investigating whether the smuggling operation connects to wider drug-running networks that use the Bangkok route.
Sri Lankan law imposes severe penalties for drug trafficking, including long prison terms. A court remanded the 22 monks in custody for seven days for further questioning and possible additional charges. Officials are continuing to try and trace the cannabis source, the trip’s financing and looking for any other local accomplices.
The incident has shocked many in the Buddhist-majority nation where monks traditionally command respect.
Sri Lanka founded the Siam Nikaya (Sect) in 1753 with monks from Thailand. 273 years later, 22 Sri Lankan monks have allegedly been caught with 112 kilos of Kush, a potent strain of cannabis, in a rather literal pursuit of “higher” enlightenment. https://t.co/83maOPhNBR pic.twitter.com/2Ezhbn0hwa
— Ranga Sirilal (@rangaba) April 26, 2026
Read more: In Nepal, cannabis becomes an acceptable sacred haze on one special day
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