Rith: Citizens must help with anti-drug campaign
POLICE burned almost 37kg of methamphetamine, ecstasy and marijuana in Svay Rieng province, Minister of Justice Koeut Rith said on Tuesday. The drugs had been confiscated in Svay Rieng, Kampong Cham, Tbong Khmum and Prey Veng provinces as part of an anti-drug campaign.
Rith said at the drug burning event that law enforcement officers and citizens must help implement the anti-drug campaign more effectively for society as a whole.
“Drug addicts who are the victims need help, but offenders who produce and traffic drugs must be punished by law,” he said.
Svay Rieng provincial governor Men Vibol said burning the drugs reflect the positive results of efforts by the authorities to stop such offences.
“At the same time, [the burning] clearly shows the public that all the drug exhibits taken by the police are stored properly and safely for destruction,” he said.
The government implemented its first anti-drug campaign in 2017. As of August, 32,205 drug offences were discovered, more than 67,000 suspects arrested and more than 2,300kg confiscated.
National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD) secretary-general Meas Virith, issued a letter in March saying the government had selected six provinces this year apart from Phnom Penh for drug burning ceremonies.
The provinces are Battambang, Svay Rieng and Preah Sihanouk, StungTreng, Svay Rieng and Banteay Meanchey.
NACD Legislation, Education and Rehabilitation Department director Lim Tong Huot told The Post the government has burned drugs in five provinces so far.