PRIME Minister Hun Sen issued a directive on June 24 ordering government ministries and law enforcement officials to crack down on "gangster activity".

"Recently, the government has noticed that gangster activity has continued growing," states the directive, which was stamped by the Ministry of Information last week and obtained by the Post Monday. "Those gangsters gather in groups and interfere with society in public places ... and they don't obey the law or the authorities."

Under the directive, law enforcement agencies are encouraged to arrest those suspected of criminal "gangster activity".