Ten people were found guilty of drug production, storage and trafficking by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday and given sentences ranging from 16 months to 30 years following their arrests in May 2012, while two others received life sentences in absentia for the same crime.

Presiding judge Kim Dany released three Cambodians – Heng Vandy, 37, Ho Chen, 58, and Vong Davin, 29, who were previous suspects in this case – due to lack of evidence that they were involved with the crime.

Canadian-Vietnamese citizens Chov Vanleuy, 49, and Chov Vanchov, 45, were sentenced in absentia to life in prison.

Dany said that the convicted persons were charged by court with the production, storage and trafficking of illegal drug precursors. When anti-drug police raided six rental warehouses across Phnom Penh in May 2012, they seized more than 3,000 litres of saffrole oil and powdered methamphetamines, along with other chemicals and drug paraphernalia.

Exonerated suspect Vandy said the court’s decision to release him was just, but declined to comment on his year-long pre-trial imprisonment.