Cambodia arrests 9 people for drug trafficking and seizes more than 60 kg of narcotics

PHNOM PENH: Cambodia has arrested a gang of nine people for manufacturing and trafficking illicit drugs, seizing more than 60 kg of narcotics, the Anti-Drug Department (ADP) announced in a press release on Tuesday (June 18).

Among the suspects were eight foreigners and one Cambodian, aged 23 to 53, ADP said, adding that two of them were women.

They were all apprehended at midnight on Saturday during raids on three sites in the southwestern coastal town of Sihanoukville after a thorough investigation, the ADP said.

“A total of 60.1 kg of ecstasy, crystal methamphetamine and ketamine were seized from the suspects during the crackdown,” the ADP said.

Police also confiscated 52.8 kg of chemical precursors, two pistols, five cars, 11 phones, an electronic tablet as well as cash and jewelry during the searches, the ADP added.

This Southeast Asian country has no death sentence for a drug trafficker. Under the law, anyone found guilty of trafficking more than 80 grams of illegal drugs could be imprisoned for life.

According to ADP, the kingdom arrested 9,369 drug-related suspects, including 324 foreigners, between January and May 2024, seizing a total of 4.71 tons of narcotics. -Xinhua