Japanese nationals Yamada Yoshihito (left), 50, and Imura Takukan, 29, appear at Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday. Photograph: Hong Menea /Phnom Penh Post

Two Japanese men and one Cambodian man charged with international drug trafficking were sentenced by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday to prison terms ranging from five to seven years and fines of 10 million to 15 million riels each ($2,500 to $3,750).

Yamada Yoshihito, 50, and Imura Takukan, 29, along with Cambodian ex-cop Sam Nang, 30, are convicted of trying to send 100 grams of methamphetamine from Phnom Penh to Japan in 2011 via the courier company Line Hold Express.

According to Ministry of Interior deputy police chief Kong Narith, police acted when “agents of Line Hold Express notified police of the attempt to send drugs from Cambodia to Japan”.

After seizing a package full of the meth, police used the address on the package to arrest Yamada in Phnom Penh’s Boeung Kak II commune in November, and found Imura and Nang the same day.

The men and their lawyers could not be reached for comment.

To contact the reporter on this story: Buth Reaksmey Kongkea at [email protected]