Another suspect held over drug smuggling
A FOURTH suspect was arrested in the capital’s Phnom Penh Thmey commune in Sen Sok district on Friday, in a case involving the smuggling of 120kg of drugs into Cambodia.
On June 26, Chheav Thearo, 35, Hem Savorn, 35, and Theav Tongheng, 37, were charged in Stung Treng province for allegedly smuggling 120kg of crystal methamphetamine from Laos.
It was previously reported that in a joint action, Phnom Penh Thmey commune police and the Interior Ministry’s AntiDrug Department raided the home of Sok Sola, 23, on July 6, where the drugs were discovered.
After Sola’s arrest, police seized two passports, three computers and three motorbikes, along with various bank statements and documents.
Police were not forthcoming as to how they came to suspect Sola in the largescale smuggling case. Both San Sothy, deputy director of the Anti-Drug Department, and Mok Chito, deputy supreme commissioner of the National Police and secretary-general of the National Anti-Drugs Authority, said they could not comment on the case as the investigation was ongoing.
According to a recent report from the National Authority for Combating Drugs, in the first half of the year, police handled 4,004 drug cases with 7,945 arrests, including 707 women.
Among those arrested were 135 foreigners from 14 countries. Of the 4,004 cases, 2,594 involved smuggling, while 1,410 involved users.
The total weight of drugs confiscated was 245kg, while police seized 45 cars, 1,051 motorbikes, 2,821 phones, 108 scales, 14 guns and 10 rifles involved in the cases.