The Health Ministry released a prakas (ministerial proclamation) this week prohibiting the import of any plant containing psychoactive substances, specifically targeting khat.

The proclamation, obtained by The Post on Thursday said that khat is a plant that contains cathinone and cathine, which are considered drugs.

‘Any export, import, transportation, display, sale or consumption of the khat plant is banned in Cambodia,’ it reads. Separately on Thursday, a police official confirmed that 175 marijuana plants were destroyed in Battambang’s Mong Russey district the day before.

Chhuon Choeun, 79, a traditional healer, was arrested by district police during the raid. The police uprooted and set them on fire, said a notice on the National Police website.