A nightclub staffer was arrested in Sihanoukville on Sunday for allegedly giving a group of small children drugs.
Chuon Narin, Preah Sihanouk provincial police chief, said that police raided the nightclub after the children identified the 17-year-old employee as the man who gave them the drug.
According to a statement posted on Facebook, the suspect found a small bottle near a dumpster behind the club containing a violet liquid. He mixed it with an energy drink and allegedly gave it to three children, ages 7, 8 and 10. The children reportedly became euphoric and hyperactive.
It was unclear exactly what the drug was, with Narin claiming it made people “happy” and then “crazy”.
A video of the children stumbling and waving their arms wildly prompted widespread outrage over the incident.
Seng Nong, director of the provincial hospital, said the suspect lives in the same village as the young victims.
“Their arms and legs became wild. Our staff started to inject serums. They could not stay firm with our staff, but now they are better and doctors said they can go home,” he said.
Meas Vyrith, secretary-general of the National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD), said the NACD has received the substance but has not yet tested it.
“We received the sample this morning. We cannot say what kind of drug it is. Our experts are going to test it,” he said. Vyrith added that any information on Facebook or local media identifying the drug was purely speculation.
