More than 14 kilograms of methamphetamine was seized in a single Phnom Penh raid last night, marking the largest bust in modern history.

Five people, including a previously convicted drug trafficker who is believed to have worked as a spy and run deals for disgraced former anti-drug czar Moek Dara, were arrested by military police in the raid on two villas in Por Senchey district, said spokesman Colonel Kheng Tito.

“These people are the long-time targets and active drug traffickers in Cambodia.  They have smuggled the  drugs from Stung Treng province, from Laos, in order to export  it to Thailand via Poipet. And they have stocked it in Phnom Penh,” he told the Post on Wednesday.  

“They were arrested by our military police while they were preparing to export it to Thailand via an illegal entry point in Poipet,” he added.

Thirteen kilograms of crystal methamphetamine was seized along with 10 packages of methamphetamine pills totaling one kilogram. Four luxury cars, a pistol and assorted drug paraphernalia were seized as well, said Tito.

Colonel Pou Dary, deputy commander of the Phnom Penh Municipal Military Police, told the Post yesterday that the raid had been months in the making.  

Among the five suspects, said Dary, were Cheath Hiv Eang also known as Hak Eang , 47, and his wife, Long Vanthy, 44. Eang was just recently released from Banteay Meanchey prison, where he was serving time on a drug-trafficking conviction, and his testimony formed part of the case against Moek Dara.  

The suspects were detained at Phnom Penh Municipal Military Police Headquarter last night for questioning.  They are expected to be sent today to Phnom Penh Municipal Court, said Dary.

Meas Chan Piseth, the Phnom Penh deputy prosecutor who participated in the raid, could not be reached for comment.

The bust comes following a record year of seizures that saw some of the biggest-ever raids of drugs and drug-making materials.