12,700 drug suspects nabbed since January

Synopsis: Authorities have apprehended nearly 13,000 drug suspects and seized 1.46 tonnes of narcotics since the start of 2025.Since January, Cambodian authorities have apprehended 12,728 drug suspects, an increase of 8%, compared to the 11,780 arrests made during the same period last year, the Anti-Drug Department said yesterday in a report.

The report said 304 foreigners, 29 of them women, were among those who were arrested.

A total of 1.46 tonnes of illicit drugs as well as 366 kg of marijuana and 12,212 marijuana plants were confiscated during the January-June period, the report added.

The authorities also seized 546 kg of drug-making ingredients, 32 pistols, 15 rifles, 102 cars, 1,283 motorcycles, 4,578 telephones, and 438 scales as well as cash during the raids, the report added.

Most of the confiscated narcotics were ketamine, ecstasy, heroin, crystal methamphetamine, methamphetamine pills, cocaine, and cathinone.

Lieutenant General Khoeung Sarath, Chief of the Anti-Drug Department in the Ministry of Interior, said drug abuse remains a major concern for Cambodian authorities.

Although the authorities have taken stringent measures to crack down on the problem, drug trafficking and smuggling activities are increasing across the country, he said.

Most of the drugs seized by the authorities were for export to a third country and most of the drug ringleaders were Chinese and Taiwanese nationals, he added.

“Most of the drugs trafficked into Cambodia are from the ‘Golden Triangle’ area in Myanmar, Laos and Thailand,” Lt Gen Sarath said.

“The latest trends indicate that drug traffickers are using Cambodia to produce drugs for export, while other drugs were imported from the Golden Triangle,” he said.
Cr: KhmerTime