Police yesterday arrested 88 people suspected of using illegal drugs, during a mass raid of a housing block in Phnom Penh’s Sen Sok district.

Phnom Penh deputy police commissioner Bon Sam Ath said more than 100 officers swept through rented houses in Toek Thla commune’s Boeng Chhuck Block starting about 8am.

Sam Ath said the large-scale raid was prompted by reports that Boeng Chhuck Block had descended into anarchy and was plagued by gambling, drugs and gangsters.

However, the three-hour operation netted just five packs of drugs, along with one knife and 18 illegal electronic gaming machines.

“We have detained the suspects ... and have to test to check how many have used drugs and what kind of drugs,” Sam Ath said.

“After questioning, we will divide the group into those who have used drug and who did not, [then] send the cases to the prosecutor.”