Preah Sihanouk governor Kuoch Chamroeun takes part in drug testing among civil servants in his province on February 26. Preah Sihanouk Administration
Following two months of exhaustive drug testing of all members of the police and armed forces, the campaign is being extended to all civil servants.
Prime Minister Hun Manet issued a February 20 order instructing all ministries and institutions to conduct regular inspections of all civil servants and state contracted officials, to ensure they are not involved in the use of illegal narcotics, or their sale or distribution.
The order explained the government’s concerns over the continued increase of drug crimes globally, including in Cambodia and the region.
“All national institutions and sub-national administrations shall immediately terminate the employment of any civil servant, police officer or soldier, as well as contracted official who is found to use illegal drugs, or is involved in their sale or distribution,” it said, adding that the individuals must also be stricken from any applicable legal status or framework.
Men Kong, spokesman for the Stung Treng Provincial Administration, explained that governor Svay Sam Eang had called a meeting as soon as Manet’s order was released to discuss its implementation.
“We began by testing members of the provincial police and military. Some of our officers returned positive tests and have been dismissed,” he told The Post in late February.
“We are adhering to the strong principles laid out by the government,” he added.
Preah Sihanouk provincial governor Kuoch Chamroeun is also implementing the policy. Following Manet’s recommendations to “Cleanse ourselves first”, the governor underwent one of the first drug tests himself.
“I have already been personally tested for drugs in front of the commission, with a negative result. I am determined to support the strict orders of the prime minister,” he said via social media.
Koh Kong provincial governor Mithona Phouthong discussed an alarming rise in drug crime in the coastal province, which shares its border with Thailand, and warned of an increase in the smuggling, production and packaging, leading to a rise in drug trafficking, distribution and use.
“In our province, the threat posed by drug crimes remains persistent. The small-scale distribution and use of narcotics in some villages and communes is causing deep concerns amongst the authorities and the public, but we are paying close attention to the issue,” she said.
“I strongly believe in the will and commitment of the government’s leadership, and will instruct the relevant authorities to suppress drug crimes and resolve any crises that occur within the province,” she added.
Manet issued the February order two months after he instructed all law enforcement and defence personnel to undergo testing. At the time, he made it clear that a positive result by any individual would result in their immediate dismissal.
As of March 7, Minister of Interior Sar Sokha had dismissed at least 160 police officers from various departments within the ministry’s jurisdiction for returning positive tests for illegal narcotics.
According to documents dated March 1 and seen by The Post on March 7, the officers were from different units across the country, including the National Police.
While closing the annual review meeting of the National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD) on February 20, he announced that the policy would be extended to all state officials and contracted employees.
“I’ve just signed the order. We will increase the implementation across the whole spectrum of government. This means that all civil servants, members of the armed forces and authorities at the national and sub-national levels will be fired if they test positive for narcotics or are found to be involved with drugs,” he said.
“There will be no more tolerance within state institutions,” he warned.
Manet stressed that a dismissal would not exclude anyone from accepting criminal responsibility, as stated in the law.
He also instructed the relevant authorities to prepare a system which would record those who were fired so they cannot be hired at other state institutions for a certain period, and ordered a working group to consider how long the state employment ban should last.
According to a NACD annual report, in 2023, its educational measures reached nearly 16 million people, while almost 25,000 drug users were offered rehabilitation services.
In the same year, Cambodian law enforcement agencies investigated 8,063 drug cases, arresting 20,002 suspects and seizing nearly three tonnes of narcotics. In total, over 347 tonnes of drugs and precursor chemicals were destroyed.
During the annual meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and NACD chairman Neth Savoeun said that while successes were made in the previous year, challenges remain ahead.
“Although we are continuously working to crack down on drug cases, the influx of drugs continues to increase. This is because Cambodia is located close to the ‘Golden Triangle’, along with global trends and a complex border infrastructure,” said the former National Police chief in reference to the once-notorious opium-producing area where Laos, Myanmar and Thailand meet.
“We also lack sophisticated tools to detect narcotics … Drug distribution and usage in the community are still happening and have even spread to rural areas. This requires closer attention by law enforcement and the authorities, from the provincial to village level, if drug dealing and using are to be eliminated from our communities,” he added.
