Members of the National Police undergo drug testing. As of April 29, 76 civil service employees have failed the drug tests and been dismissed. Facebook
Close to 300 people were arrested on drug-related charges last week. The arrests coincide with a thorough drug-testing regime, which has so far tested more than 56,000 Cambodian civil servants.
As of April 29, 76 officials had been dismissed for their involvement with drugs, according to the Ministry of Interior and the National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD).
Officers from the National Police investigated a total of 100 drug cases between April 22 and 28, apprehending 298 suspects across the country, according to interior ministry spokesman Touch Sokhak.
“The National Police are working hard to crack down on drug trafficking and use across the country,” he said, adding that of the cases, 22 were recorded in Phnom Penh, 15 in Preah Sihanouk, six in Kampong Speu, six in Siem Reap, and five in both Tbong Khmum and Kampong Thom provinces.
Two large cases were reported in the capital, with eight suspects arrested and 216kg of narcotics seized, while one man was held in Siem Reap following the discovery of 120kg of drugs. Two suspects were detained in Banteay Meanchey, with more than six kg of drugs impounded.
In addition to drugs, police officers confiscated other evidence, including weapons, vehicles and mobile phones.
During a press conference last week, the National Police confirmed that the narcotics seized in the capital had a street value which exceeded one million dollars.
Around 10 large busts have been made so far this year, with some netting more than a tonne of drugs. The majority of the drugs were believed to have been sourced in the so-called “golden triangle” area and were destined for transit to other markets, where they would command higher prices. Heroin, for example, could be sold for more than $100,000 per kilogramme, according to the ministry’s anti-drug department.
The department reiterated its commitment to cleaning up drug crimes and preventing the further use of Cambodian territory as a transit point for the drug trade.
Sokhak noted that the crackdown on drug crime is one of six priority areas of the ministry under the seventh mandate government, and added that the government is continuing to pay close attention to the issue of illegal drugs.
In accordance with the government’s order 01 dated February 20, the NACD and other relevant institutions are conducting drug tests on all civil servants, members of the armed forces, police and contracted officers across the Kingdom.
As of April 29, a total of 56,445 officials have undergone urine tests. Of them, 76 tested positive and were dismissed, said the NACD.
The authority had advised that the addicts be sent to rehabilitation centres by their former employers.
The NACD is currently seeking donations of drug testing kits from local and international philanthropists so it can continue this vital work.
