British Woman Arrested for Smuggling 60 Kilograms of Synthetic Cannabis in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Sri Lankan authorities recently seized nearly 60 kilograms of synthetic cannabis, commonly known as kush, from several foreign nationals attempting to smuggle the drugs into the country. The customs department reported that the most significant haul came from a 21-year-old British woman, Charlotte May Lee, who was arrested on May 12.

Customs officials detained Lee at Bandaranaike International Airport after discovering 46 kilograms (101 pounds) of the drug in her luggage. This incident marks one of the largest drug seizures at the airport in recent years. Lee, a former flight attendant from London, reportedly claimed she had no knowledge of the drugs in her suitcases and suggested they were planted while she was in Bangkok.

“I had never seen them [the drugs] before. I didn’t expect it all when they pulled me over at the airport,” Lee told reporters. “I thought it was going to be filled with all my stuff,” she added. Her lawyer, Sampath Perera, confirmed that Lee has been in contact with her family while being held at a local prison.

Authorities indicated that she could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted of drug trafficking. Customs Additional Director General Seevali Arukgoda labeled this incident a critical bust in the battle against narcotics smuggling in Sri Lanka, a country frequently exploited as a transit point for drug traffickers.

Following Lee’s arrest, police also apprehended a 33-year-old Indian man at Kankesanthurai on May 16, who was found with four kilograms of kush. A Thai man, 21, was detained on May 18 at the same airport with nearly eight kilograms of the same synthetic drug.

In recent years, synthetic drugs like kush have become a growing concern, particularly in West African nations, where they have been linked to numerous fatalities. Sri Lankan authorities have ramped up their efforts to combat drug smuggling, especially from the Bangkok route, which has seen a marked increase in illicit activity.

Lee’s case highlights the broader issue of international drug trafficking and the consequences that await those caught in possession of such dangerous substances. Her legal team continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding her arrest as she remains in custody awaiting further developments in the case.