An investigation by Tbong Khmum provincial authorities on Saturday into potential drug use in Trapang Plong prison resulted in the discovery of illicit substances allegedly found in the possession of three inmates, with investigators suspecting there may be more.

The probe, led by provincial prosecutor Heang Sopheak in collaboration with Trapang Plong prison guards, uncovered three packages of a white powdered drug under the sleeping mats of three prisoners.

Phin Yan, the prison director, said yesterday said that the three prisoners – Loek Kry, 36, Va Heng, 26, and Ros Sarat, 39 – will be punished accordingly for drug possession, distribution and consumption.

Sopheak said yesterday that the investigation will continue, and that he suspected the drug presence was not limited to just three inmates.

“I believe that the suspects are not just the three of them, but more,” he said.

Sorn Keo, the Interior Ministry’s prison department spokesman, said the investigation would examine “where those three packs of addictive substances came from and how they were brought into the prisoners’ cell”.

Am Sam Ath, of the rights group Licadho, posited that drugs may be making their way into the prison with help from the security personnel.

“I think . . . it is not the gap of inspection, but some prison guards might collude with one another.”