Law enforcers get training in chemical control from INCB
CAMBODIA’s top anti-narcotics authorities have jointly conducted a two-day training course from March 9-10 for officials from relevant ministries and law enforcement to enhance knowledge on chemical control mechanisms.
Meas Vyrith, secretary-general of the National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD), said at the commencement of the course on March 9 that the training on the information exchange system of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) was organised in response to the ongoing challenges from the smuggling of chemicals for the production of illicit drugs worldwide.
He thanked the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the INCB for assisting Cambodia in its fight against drugs, especially through offering technical support and training for the Kingdom’s law enforcement officials.
Vyrith added that the twoday course hoped to enhance the knowledge and capability of officials from relevant law enforcement ministries and institutions so that they are able to keep up with the INCB’s various chemical control mechanisms to promote the exchange of information on the circulation of chemicals in the region and beyond.
“We all need to have clear and effective measures to prevent and control the supply of chemicals. Cambodian police forces have cracked down on small and large-scale labs secretly manufacturing synthetic drugs,” he said.
He noted that police had recently cracked down on three cases of illegal drugs manufacturing in four different locations and seized “more than two tonnes of drugs, 200 tonnes of chemicals and a large number of drug production equipment” in Phnom Penh and the provinces of Kampong Speu and Preah Sihanouk.
Vyrith also requested that all relevant working groups increase inspections at land, sea and air ports, as well as other important targets, to ensure more efficient clampdowns on drug offences and the import of chemicals.
Fernando Romero Contreras, coordinator of the Global Rapid Interdiction of Dangerous Substances (GRIDS) Programme, said Cambodia continues to be adversely affected by high-risk crimes and activities committed under the influence of drugs. He noted that the problem could be attributed to the steady increase in drug production, circulation and trafficking in the world as well as in the
Police have cracked down on small and large-scale labs secretly manufacturing synthetic drugs
Southeast Asia region.
He added that although the number of police crackdowns on drug transportation and manufacture had fallen, cases of serious drug offences had increased. Police had seized “hundreds of tonnes of drugs” in Phnom Penh and provinces on the border of Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, “by post and by sea”, Contreras said.
A recent NACD report revealed that 6,242 drug offences were recorded across the Kingdom, with 13,765 suspects including 362 foreigners detained.
It said 8,549 arrests had been made for 4,415 cases involving the trafficking, storage, and manufacture of drugs, and 490 guilty verdicts had been delivered.
The report said police had seized over 4,435kg of various illegal substances, 52,214 marijuana plants and 141kg of dried marijuana. They also seized 124 cars, 1,647 motorcycles, 5,853 mobile phones and 336 sets of scales, 41 pistols and 42 rifles.