In the latest in a recent string of safrole oil-related arrests in the Kingdom, a mother and son duo had been taken into custody over the past two days on suspicion of their involvement in the storing of the ecstasy precursor in Phnom Penh’s Tuol Kork district, according to police.

Police said the two arrests are connected to an August 19 raid in which 123 kilograms of the oil were found stored in the Dangkor district home of 40-year-old Say Ki, who was arrested at the time.

Boeung Salang commune police chief Koem Kolidou said that the son, 27-year-old Lay Vy, was arrested on Monday, while his mother, who police did not name, was arrested yesterday.

Both have been sent to Phnom Penh Municipal Court for questioning, Keo Mony, the investigating judge, said without providing further details. “We are investing the case, and cannot make any comment on this,” Mony said.

The August 19 bust followed extensive police surveillance of Say Ki, which led officers to an unspecified number of petrol containers that held the trafficked oil. Ki’s family claimed at the time that they were unaware the containers were storing the illicit substance.

Last week, the Post reported on a safrole oil bust of more than four tonnes in Pursat, the largest such seizure of the year.

The harvesting of the roots of sassafras trees used in making the oil took place deep in the forest at various locations along the border of Koh Kong and Pursat as well as in Battambang.

During questioning, one suspect, Keo Thou, speculated that the oil was eventually destined for further processing in Phnom Penh.

To contact the reporter on this story: Phak Seangly at [email protected]