Police Arrest 23 Monks for Drugs

A2

Police Arrest 23 Monks for Drugs

Introduction

Police in Sri Lanka arrested 23 monks. The monks tried to bring 110 kilograms of cannabis from Thailand.

Main Body

On Saturday, officers found the drugs at the Colombo airport. The drugs were inside the walls of 22 suitcases. The suitcases also had candy and books. These monks were students. They went to Thailand for four days. A secret person paid for the trip. Three monks told the others to go. They said the trip was free. Police arrested one more monk in the city. He did not go to Thailand. He told the other monks to carry the bags. He said the bags were gifts. Police are now checking the phones of the monks. Maybe the monks did not know about the drugs. This is the first time many monks were arrested for drugs at the airport.

Conclusion

Twenty-three men are in jail. Police want to know if the monks knew about the drugs.

Vocabulary Learning

airport (n.)
place where planes land and take off機場
Example:They met at the airport before the flight.
city (n.)
large town or urban area城市
Example:The city is known for its historic buildings.
drug (n.)
medicine or illegal substance / a substance that can affect the body藥物;毒品
Example:The drug was hidden in the suitcase.
monk (n.)
religious teacher / person who lives in a monastery僧侶
Example:The monk studied the scriptures.
police (n.)
law enforcement officers / people who keep the law警察
Example:The police arrested the suspects.

Sentence Learning

Police arrested one more monk in the city.
Location: The phrase 'in the city' shows where the action happened.位置: 'in the city' 表示行動發生的地方。
Police are now checking the phones of the monks.
Time: 'now' tells us when the action is happening.時間: 'now' 表示行動發生的時間。
They went to Thailand for four days.
Destination: 'to Thailand' shows the place they went.目的地: 'to Thailand' 表示他們去的目的地。
The drugs were inside the walls of 22 suitcases.
Preposition: 'inside the walls' is a prepositional phrase telling us where the drugs were.介詞: 'inside the walls' 是一個介詞片語,說明藥物所在的位置。
The suitcases also had candy and books.
Conjunction: 'and' connects two items, candy and books.連接詞: 'and' 連接兩個項目,candy 和 books。
B2

Twenty-Three Sri Lankan Monks Detained After Cannabis Found at Colombo Airport

Introduction

Authorities in Sri Lanka have detained twenty-three monks after they attempted to bring 110 kilograms of a strong variety of cannabis into the country from Thailand.

Main Body

The incident began on Saturday at Colombo international airport, where customs officers discovered 110kg of 'Kush' cannabis. The drugs were hidden inside the luggage of twenty-two monks, with about five kilograms concealed within false walls in each suitcase. These packages were placed among sweets and educational books. After appearing in court on Sunday, the twenty-two individuals were held in custody for seven days so that police could question them further. Regarding the trip, the detainees were mostly students from different Sri Lankan temples who had finished a four-day visit to Thailand. This trip was paid for by an unknown sponsor. Reports claim that three monks used social media to recruit the other participants by offering free travel, hotels, and food. Later, police arrested a twenty-third monk in a Colombo suburb. Although he did not travel to Thailand, officials asserted that he coordinated the operation and told the travelers that the packages were simply donations. However, there is a disagreement over whether the monks are truly guilty. While they were arrested for smuggling, the Police Narcotics Bureau suggested that the suspects might not have known what was in their bags. This theory is supported by evidence from their mobile phones, which shows the group enjoying leisure activities during the trip. This is the first time a group of monks has been arrested for drug trafficking at a Sri Lankan airport.

Conclusion

Twenty-three people are still under investigation after the seizure of 110kg of cannabis, while authorities continue to determine if the monks knew about the illegal cargo.

Vocabulary Learning

arrested (v.)
to take someone into custody for a crime逮捕;拘捕
Example:A twenty‑third monk was arrested in a Colombo suburb.
concealed (v.)
to hide something secretly隱藏;藏匿
Example:The drugs were concealed within the false walls of the suitcases.
customs (n.)
the authority that controls goods entering or leaving a country海關
Example:Customs officers inspected the luggage for contraband.
detained (v.)
to hold someone in custody被扣押;被拘留
Example:The monks were detained at the airport.
discovered (v.)
to find something that was not known before發現;偵測到
Example:They discovered 110kg of Kush cannabis during the inspection.

Sentence Learning

The incident began on Saturday at Colombo international airport, where customs officers discovered 110kg of "Kush" cannabis.
Relative Clause: This clause gives additional information about the place where the incident started, specifying that the discovery happened at the airport.關係子句: 此子句為「airport」提供了額外資訊,說明事件發生地點並說明在機場內發現了110公斤的Kush大麻。
The drugs were hidden inside the luggage of twenty-two monks, with about five kilograms concealed within false walls in each suitcase.
Passive Voice: The sentence uses passive construction to emphasize the action (hidden) rather than the doer, focusing on the drugs rather than who hid them.被動語態: 句子使用被動語態,強調動作「hidden」而非執行者,重點在於藥物本身,而非誰將其藏匿。
Although he did not travel to Thailand, officials asserted that he coordinated the operation and told the travelers that the packages were simply donations.
Contrast Conjunction: The conjunction 'although' introduces a contrast between the monk's lack of travel and his role in coordinating the operation.對比連接詞: 連接詞 'although' 引入對比,說明雖然這位僧人未曾前往泰國,但他卻協調了這次行動。
While they were arrested for smuggling, the Police Narcotics Bureau suggested that the suspects might not have known what was in their bags.
Contrast Conjunction: 'while' sets up a contrast between the fact that they were arrested and the possibility that they were unaware of the contents.對比連接詞: 'while' 建立對比,說明雖然他們因走私被逮捕,但也可能對包內物品不知情。
These packages were placed among sweets and educational books.
Passive Voice: The sentence uses passive construction to focus on the packages being placed, rather than who placed them.被動語態: 句子使用被動語態,重點在於包裝被放置的位置,而非執行者。
C2

Detention of Twenty-Three Sri Lankan Monks Following Discovery of Cannabis at Colombo Airport

Introduction

Authorities in Sri Lanka have detained twenty-three monks in connection with the attempted importation of 110 kilograms of a high-potency cannabis strain from Thailand.

Main Body

The incident commenced on Saturday at the international airport in Colombo, where customs officials identified 110kg of 'Kush' cannabis. The narcotic was distributed among the luggage of twenty-two monks, with approximately five kilograms concealed within fabricated walls in each suitcase. These items were found interspersed with confectionery and educational materials. Following their appearance in court on Sunday, the twenty-two individuals were remanded in custody for a period of seven days to facilitate further interrogation. Regarding the logistical background, the detainees—primarily students from various Sri Lankan temples—had completed a four-day excursion to Thailand. This trip was fully funded by an unidentified sponsor. Reports indicate that three monks utilized social media platforms to recruit the remaining participants by offering complimentary transportation, lodging, and sustenance. Subsequent police operations resulted in the arrest of a twenty-third monk in a Colombo suburb. This individual, who did not travel to Thailand, is alleged to have coordinated the operation. According to police statements, he informed the travelers that the packages constituted donations and that a vehicle would be dispatched for collection upon their arrival. There is a divergence in the assessment of the detainees' culpability. While the monks were arrested for smuggling, the Police Narcotics Bureau has noted that the suspects may have been unaware of the contents of their luggage. This hypothesis is supported by evidence found on mobile devices, which depicts the group engaging in leisure activities during their trip. This case is noted as the first instance of a collective of monks being apprehended for drug trafficking via an airport in Sri Lanka.

Conclusion

Twenty-three individuals remain under investigation after the seizure of 110kg of cannabis, with authorities currently determining the extent of the monks' knowledge regarding the illicit cargo.

Vocabulary Learning

concealed (v.)
to hide or keep out of sight / 隱藏隱匿
Example:The smugglers concealed the drugs within the walls of the luggage.
culpability (n.)
the state of being responsible for a wrongdoing / 責任罪責
Example:The court assessed the monks' culpability in the smuggling plot.
illicit (adj.)
not permitted by law or custom / 非法的非法的
Example:The authorities seized an illicit shipment of cannabis at the airport.
interrogation (n.)
the formal questioning of a person by authorities / 問訊訊問
Example:After the arrest, the suspect underwent a lengthy interrogation.
remanded (v.)
to send someone back to custody for further legal proceedings / 送回監禁被送回監禁
Example:The court remanded the suspect to prison for the duration of the trial.

Sentence Learning

Following their appearance in court on Sunday, the twenty-two individuals were remanded in custody for a period of seven days to facilitate further interrogation.
Gerund Phrase as Adverbial: The phrase 'Following their appearance in court on Sunday' functions as an adverbial modifier of time, using a gerund to indicate the sequence of events.動名詞短語作副詞: 'Following their appearance in court on Sunday' 作為時間副詞短語,使用動名詞表明事件的先後順序。
This individual, who did not travel to Thailand, is alleged to have coordinated the operation.
Relative Clause: The relative clause 'who did not travel to Thailand' provides additional information about 'This individual' and is set off by commas.關係子句: 'who did not travel to Thailand' 為 'This individual' 提供額外資訊,並用逗號隔開。
Reports indicate that three monks utilized social media platforms to recruit the remaining participants by offering complimentary transportation, lodging, and sustenance.
Infinitive Purpose Clause: The infinitive clause 'to recruit the remaining participants' expresses the purpose of using social media platforms.不定詞目的子句: 'to recruit the remaining participants' 表示使用社交媒體平台的目的。
While the monks were arrested for smuggling, the Police Narcotics Bureau has noted that the suspects may have been unaware of the contents of their luggage.
Subordinating Conjunction 'While': The clause starting with 'While' introduces a contrastive subordinate clause, indicating that the note about suspects' awareness occurs despite the arrest for smuggling.從屬連詞 'While': 'While the monks were arrested for smuggling' 引入對比性從句,表明即使被逮捕,警方仍注意到嫌疑人可能不知情。
This case is noted as the first instance of a collective of monks being apprehended for drug trafficking via an airport in Sri Lanka.
Participial Phrase: The participial phrase 'being apprehended' modifies 'a collective of monks', indicating the action performed on them.分詞短語: 'being apprehended' 修飾 'a collective of monks',表示對他們所發生的動作。