POLICE officials across the country said yesterday that the 30-day crackdown on drug crime had been a success, after hundreds of suspects were arrested and a monumental amount of drugs seized.

On April 5, a controversial edict was issued by National Police chief Neth Savoeun. It imposed a one-month deadline for police officials to rigorously target drug crimes or face losing their positions.

Khieu Samon, acting director of the National Authority for Combating Drugs at the Ministry of Interior, released the results of the ultimatum for the first time yesterday. He stated that police across the Kingdom had confiscated 3,851 yama pills, 467 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, 1,363 pills of ecstasy, one kilogramme of heroin and  destroyed 3,736 marijuana plants.

Khieu Samon also said police had arrested 372 suspects in 148 drug cases, but declined to comment on whether any police officials would face the loss of their positions over  any lack of action.

“It is a good result throughout the country because our police have cracked down everywhere, not only big drug sites,” he said.

Phnom Penh Municipal deputy police chief Pen Rath said Sunday that about 100 people were arrested in Phnom Penh on drug trafficking and drug abuse charges during the one-month period, in addition to the 517 people arrested and charged in 200 drug cases since January 1.

“Our police have been working very hard in combating drug abuse and drug trafficking in the city. Due to our strong commitment and hard work, almost all of the drug issues have been cracked down upon and reduced in Phnom Penh,” he said.

Brigadier General Nuon Samin, chief of Kampong Cham Police, said Sunday that from January 1 to May 8, 65 people were arrested and charged with drug abuse and drug trafficking in the province.

He added that among these arrests, about 30 of the suspects were arrested between April 5 and May 5. Iv Chamroeun, Kandal province police chief, said Sunday that 21 people were charged with drug abuse and trafficking from April 5 to May 5 in the province.

“Our police have worked very hard and with our hard work, 21 people were arrested in Kandal province. I think that although the number seems small, I noted that almost all of the drug abusers and drug traffickers were cracked down upon in the province,” he said.  

He added that since January 1, about 70 people had been arrested and charged with drug abuse and drug trafficking in Kandal province.