Anti-Drug Department police officers conducted raids and seized more than 780kg of drugs that it says were bound for export.

An August 4 announcement from the National Police described how the department had been conducting an investigation into a Taiwan, China based distribution network.

The Taiwanese gang were smuggling drugs from the so-called “Golden Triangle” between Laos and Cambodia to Taiwan via the sea.

Led by In Song and Mak Serey Vattanak, the anti-drug department coordinated two raids on August 1, one in Preah Sihanouk province, and one in Phnom Penh. The raids were supported by officials from the Phnom Penh and Preah Sihanouk municipal and provisional police and courts.

The first team raided a large villa at 2.30am in village II, commune III, Sihanoukville, Prea Sihanouk province. 789kg of ketamine was seized, and two suspects were detained. The two men, An Chi Wei, 31 and Tuan Zhong Yue, 41, are both from Taiwan. One car and several mobile phones were also seized.

The second team searched a house in the capital’s Borey Peng Huoth Boeung Snor – in Chbar Ampov district’s Nirouth commune – at 7.30am. Four Taiwanese men, Chen Chi Hsiang, 37, Chan I Yang, 34, Liao Shi Bo, 26, and Tsai Yu Ching, 35, were arrested. Three cars, three motorcycles and five mobile phones were seized as evidence and eight bank accounts were frozen.

The suspects and all seized evidence have been referred to the court for further legal action.