Eight foreign nationals were tried at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday over allegations they sold a small quantity of methamphetamine to undercover police in October 2014.

Presiding judge Top Chhunheng said the defendants – Nigerian nationals Me Johanudom, Favour Ibezi Mako Oberta, Samson Echowdo, Okechukwu Ikefu Aku, Thaddeus Ikechudwu Onyinechi, Oragwam Godwin Emeka, Michael Nwankwo and Ezigbo Gabriel Chukwueloka – were charged with drug trafficking.

According to the police report, Johanudom, Oberta and Echowdo were arrested on October 26, 2014, after allegedly bringing a package with 6.61 grams of meth to sell to undercover cops in front of Sorya Mall.

Police testified the other five were found at a home in Por Sen Chey district later that night with a small amount of marijuana.

Seven defendants categorically denied the charges against them yesterday.

The eighth, Johanudom, admitted to bringing a black package to the mall, but said he had been asked to by a man named Frank, and “did not know that it was a package of drugs . . . [until] after I was arrested by police”.