TWO foreign nationals, one French and one British, were arrested Friday in Sihanoukville for on suspicions of trafficking marijuana.

Mok Dara, director of the anti-narcotics department at the Ministry of Interior, said police arrested Frenchman Franget Jocelyn Fanget, 42, and Briton Craig Bullock, 37, as well as a Cambodian national, Chan Datry, 35, while in possession of 1.1 kilograms of marijuana.

"We have already sent them to the court on October 26," Mok Dara told the Post on Tuesday.

"They were charged with drug trafficking."

According to Mok Dara, Fanget owned a restaurant in Sihanoukville and Bullock was a tourist staying in Kampot province.

"Our forces had followed them for months before arresting them," he said.

"We arrested them at the scene while they were exchanging drugs," he added.

Meas Sopheak, chief prosecutor at Sihanoukville municipal court declined to comment and referred questions to investigating judge Plang Samnang, who could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Monday sentenced a 34-year-old Taiwanese man, Liao Ichun, to 22 years in prison for heroin smuggling.

Liao was arrested in December 2007 with 240 grams of heroin while preparing to depart from Phnom Penh International Airport. The court also ordered him to pay US$12,000 in additional fines.

Mok Dara said most foreigners arrested on drug trafficking charges are Chinese, adding that there were fewer arrests this year than last. He declined to reveal exact figures.