The leader of a suspected drug trafficking ring linked to 535 grams of methamphetamines uncovered in a Toul Kork hotel on Monday evening is still at large following the arrest of four suspects related to the case.

San Vuthy, chief of the national police’s anti-drug office, said that the investigation of the trafficking ring is ongoing, but based on police questioning of the suspects the leader has been identified.

“The big leader of the drug trafficking case is a Lao citizen,” said Vuthy. “We will find and arrest him.”

The four suspects arrested in relation to the case will remain in police detention for questioning, but they likely will be charged today, said Khieuv Samorn, chief of the anti-drug police department at the Ministry of Interior.

“The four suspects are still being questioned, but based on obvious evidence, they will be accused of drug trafficking,” Samorn said.

During the original bust on Monday evening, Chhin Long, 27, Hang Vuth, 30, and Chhun Dafong, 32, were arrested at a hotel after a fourth suspect tipped police off to their dealings.

The fourth suspect, whose name has not been released to the public because of the sensitivity of the investigation, had been arrested at Daun Penh district’s Wat Phnom commune earlier in the evening.

To contact the reporter on this story: Khouth Sophak Chakrya at [email protected]