The Preah Sihanouk Provincial Court prosecutor’s office on June 22 questioned 20 suspects, including a Chinese man. They were arrested four days prior by Military Police, in connection with the trafficking of nearly 30 small packages of drugs in Village 3 of Sihanoukville’s Tomnup Roloak commune.
Huot Vichet, spokesman for the prosecutor’s office, told The Post on June 22 that an interrogation was currently underway.
Long Kim Hour, head of the Sihanoukville gendarmerie’s anti-drug bureau, said on June 22 that before the busts were made, his officers had received orders from provincial gendarmerie commander Heng Bunty to identify the drug dealer. A squad of officers carried out an uncover operation and discovered the identities of the gang.
Kim Hour added local people had complained that the dealers were creating unrest and that their presence was linked to an increase in late night robberies.
He said the operation was dangerous.
“Dealing with these kinds of criminals is always challenging. Drug dealers often carry weapons – and are not afraid to use them – but if we want to ensure social order and the safety of the public, we have no choice other than to take them on,” he said.
According to Kim Hour, the busts were made in three different locations across the commune.
The 20 suspects are aged between 14 and 40 years. They are each suspected of drug dealing. The Military Police seized almost 30 packages of methamphetamine in the operation.
