A seven-year-old boy was sent to the Phnom Penh municipal social affairs department for correction and rehabilitation on Monday after he was caught distributing drugs in Meanchey district’s Steung Meanchey commune.
Commune police chief Mao Savoeun said police found 14 small packs of drugs, a mobile phone and some consumption paraphernalia.
The unidentified boy’s mother is a scavenger with four children under her care while his father is serving a prison sentence for drug trafficking charges. He was caught dealing drugs in Meanchey I village on Thursday.
“Feeling pity for the boy, authorities sent him to the social affairs department for correction and rehabilitation. We stopped the act of using him as a drug distributing agent by dealers who also made him consume drugs,” he said.
Those behind the drugs
Police are investigating to bring those behind the operation to book. The municipal social affairs department director Mom Chandany said on Monday that she was not aware the boy had been sent to her department.
“I haven’t seen a report about it. I will check with my officials,” she said.
