PHNOM PENH (XINHUA) – Cambodian authorities had arrested 14,722 drug-related suspects, including 331 foreigners, during the first nine months of 2023, the country’s Anti-Drug Department said in a report yesterday.
Some 51 per cent of the suspects were drug traffickers, manufacturers and transporters, while the rest were drug users, the report said.
“A total of 2.68 tonnes of illicit drugs and some 911 kilogrammes of ingredients were seized in the suspects’ possession during the January-September period of 2023,” the report said.
Most of the seized drugs were ketamine, heroin, ecstasy, cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, methamphetamine pills, and cathinone.
Compared to the same period last year, Cambodia saw a spike in drug arrests, but a decline in drug seizures, the report said, adding that the kingdom arrested 11,431 drug suspects, confiscating 6.25 tonnes of narcotics during the first nine months of 2022.
The Southeast Asian country has no death sentence for drug traffickers. Under its law, someone found guilty of trafficking more than 80 grammes of illicit drugs could be jailed for life.
