PARAMARIBO, Suriname – Contrary to information in the local media that a Surinamese woman arrested in Sri Lanka has been sentenced to death on suspicion of drug smuggling, the government says that the Sri Lankan court has yet handed down no verdict.
The police report that the Customs Narcotics Control Bureau arrested the woman on October 18 for possessing over two kilograms of cocaine at the Katunayake Airport.
The 25-year-old woman, who had arrived at the Katunayake Bandaranaike Airport through Doha of Qatar from Brazil, was questioned by the Sri Lanka Customs Narcotics Control Bureau officers due to her suspicious behavior.
During the investigation, the officers discovered 2,553 grams of cocaine, calculated in tins, labeled as containing food.
The suspect was subsequently detained and charged with the offense of drug smuggling.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Business, and International Cooperation have become involved. The ministry states that based on the Vienna Convention on Consular Traffic’ (Arts 5 and 36 paragraph 1c) and ‘the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Traffic,’ information is requested from Sri Lanka.
The Surinamese government has taken steps by these preconditions, and the embassy in New Delhi, India, immediately contacted the authorities of Sri Lanka.
After confirming the suspect’s arrest, the Surinamese embassy in New Delhi immediately requested permission from the Sri Lankan authorities for consular access to the person concerned, either virtually or physically.
In the meantime, a Surinamese lawyer has been appointed by the suspect’s family as a contact person, and information is exchanged with the family via this communication line.
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