Mother, son nabbed in Takeo marijuana bust

Suspects stand next to boxes and bags of marijuana at a Takeo police station after they were arrested on Tuesday. Photo supplied

A mother and son were sent to pre-trial detention yesterday after more than 20 kilograms of dried marijuana were found in their home in Takeo’s Kiri Vong district on Tuesday.

According to provincial court deputy prosecutor Phan Sopheak, 55-year-old Sok Sorphoan and 28-year-old Chan Sarat were arrested after 23 kilos of dried marijuana were uncovered in their home, following a tip-off from Pur Rong villagers, who claimed that the duo were secretly growing the drug in their fields.

“The judicial police were ordered to detain them at the provincial prison . . . under the charges of possessing and peddling an addictive substance,” Sopheak said, adding that the suspects had admitted to growing the drug.

“One kilogram of dried marijuana sells for about 700,000 riel [about $174] to 800,000 riel [$199],” said provincial military police deputy commander Nget Chanthy.

According to Preah Bat Chonchum commune deputy police chief Sam Nun, marijuana was commonly grown by villagers as a food ingredient and medicine, but most had stopped growing it after learning of its illegality.

Contact author: Khouth Sophak Chakrya

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