A Laotian man will be sent to Stung Treng Provincial Court after being arrested in Borei O’Svay Sen Chey district’s O’Svay commune on March 31 for allegedly trafficking 3kg of methamphetamines.

Provincial police chief Outh Sivutha identified the suspect as Phit Samorn Noi, a 29-year-old from Khong district of Laos’ Champasak province.

Sivutha said his officers were patrolling their target area in O’Svay commune’s O’Svay village when they came across Noi – who was crossing into Cambodia near a bridge at the border – and noticed that he was carrying something suspicious.

After seeking legal coordination from provincial court prosecutor Chet Khemara, they arrested him and found three plastic packages containing nearly 3kg of methamphetamines.

“As per procedure, once we finish with our report we will send both suspect and evidence to the court for prosecution – probably on April 2,” he said.

Meas Vyrith, secretary-general of the National Authority for Combating Drugs, could not be reached for comment.

However, he recently remarked that the number of people apprehended in 2020 for drug-related crimes had increased by six per cent from the previous year, with over three tonnes of illegal drugs seized.