Kampong Speu police arrested a man last Friday who is alleged to have impersonated a soldier from the army’s notorious Brigade 70 in an attempt to shelter his drug-dealing activities.

Deputy provincial police chief Ouk Sophal yesterday said the suspect, Thlaing Sophy, 37, has been charged with drug distribution.

The arrest took place in Samron Tong district’s Ralaing Kroeul commune, according to district police chief Khuth Sophal.

“We arrested him at about 10am on Friday morning in Ralaing Kroeul commune while he stopped to buy petrol,” said Sophal. “We found 15 packets of ice [crystal meth], two phones and a scale.”

Photos circulated with reports of Sophy’s arrest showed him wearing the uniform of Brigade 70, an army unit connected to numerous allegations of human rights abuses.

However, Sophal insisted the accused has no connection to the unit.

“He got [the uniform] last month from a friend,” said Sophal. “He wore it in order to avoid our notice.”