Three Cambodians were among 11 people captured in Laos for allegedly smuggling methamphetamine in a joint operation carried out by Cambodian and Laotian anti-drugs police.

The March 19 arrests took place less than 10 kilometres from the Cambodian border, in Muang Khong district, Champasak province, according to Cambodia’s anti-drugs chief, Lieutenant General Khieu Saman. “These 11 suspects were targeted transnational drug traffickers hiding in the Cambodia-Laos border region,” Saman told the Post.

Along with three kilograms of methamphetamine, police reported seizing an AK-47, a handgun, ammunition, three grenades, a car and a motorbike.

The three Cambodian suspects were named as Chea Thy, 50; Seng Hoeung, 40; and Veng Mor, 37. The eight Laotian suspects were identified as Phin Samorn, 28; Nam Sok, 15; Bun Ma, 36; Hak Sady, 20; Leaksy Bunhoeun, 21; Vinhean Duong Mala, 38; Thorng Sean, 30; and Chan Samorn, 48.

The meth trade in East Asia-Pacific is estimated by the United Nations to be worth more than $15 billion annually.