BANTEAY Meanchey provincial police said yesterday they were hunting for more suspects following a raid conducted in Poipet earlier this week in which police arrested one man and seized nearly 13 million flu tablets.

Provincial police chief Hun Hean said yesterday that An Pheakdey, 35, had been charged with drug smuggling, illegal transportation of goods and violating health laws.

He was sent to court for further questioning after the raid, which he said was the country’s largest bust of smuggled medicine to date.

“The case of An Pheakdey is in the court’s hands,” he said. “The confiscated drugs have been kept at the police station pending the court’s decision.”

He said that police were working to apprehend other suspects wanted in connection with the smuggling of the pills.

The 12.8 million purple-coloured flu pills contain the active ingredient pseudo-ephedrine, a chemical used in the production of stimulants such as speed and methamphetamine.

Hun Hean said the crackdown took place hours after the man picked up the medicine from the Cambodian-Thai border crossing checkpoint in Poipet town.

Provincial court prosecutor Sou Vath confirmed that An Pheakdey will be tried on drug smuggling charges.

“We have now sent [the case] to the investigating judge, and the judge will try him,” he said.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY AFP