A Sierra Leonean passenger attempting to enter Sri Lanka by swallowing 59 pellets containing cocaine worth over Rs. 40 million was arrested by Sri Lanka Customs at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).

The suspect had arrived in the country on Tuesday morning aboard Turkish Airlines flight TK730 from Istanbul and attempted to use the green channel to exit the airport when he was stopped on suspicion, according to Customs Spokesman and Additional Director General, Seevali Arukgoda.

Officials from the Customs Narcotics Control Unit stationed at the BIA Arrival Terminal admitted the passenger to Negombo Hospital, where 17 pellets of cocaine were initially retrieved throughout Tuesday.

A senior Customs narcotics detective told the Daily Mirror that the suspect was handed over to the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) yesterday morning for further detention, and a court order was obtained to retrieve more pellets.

In his initial statement, the 32-year-old suspect claimed to have swallowed 59 pellets containing cocaine. By the evening, when this edition went to press, officials, with the assistance of hospital authorities, had retrieved 56 pellets containing nearly one kilogram of cocaine.

The drugs already seized have been valued at Rs. 40 million, with a gram of cocaine having a street value of Rs. 40,000.

The detective mentioned that it was the suspect’s first visit to Sri Lanka and that he had been paid to act as a narcotics carrier. He was expected to be received by a local operative from a major drug syndicate.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the arrested suspect is linked to another Sierra Leonean foreigner who was apprehended by the PNB at the Pinnaduwa Interchange of the Southern Expressway a week ago with a cocaine shipment.

The passenger will remain detained for further inquiries by the PNB.