The Anti-Drug Crime Department has warned that a recent arson case and several other crimes were caused by excessive drug use, and called on the public to report drug-related offenses.
General Khoeng Sarath, director of the Anti-Drug Crime Department at the National Police, said on Monday, November 24, that a recent case of arson occurred after a young man overdosed on synthetic drugs, which are now widespread and severely affect the nervous system.
“Recently, a suspect who overdosed on drugs set his own house on fire, causing the flames to spread to neighbouring homes and tragically killing a person in the blaze,” he said.
A woman — the suspect’s aunt — was burned to death, and a man — an uncle — was seriously injured after a young man used gasoline to set fire to his own home. The blaze spread to 10 nearby houses.
The incident occurred on the night of Friday, November 21, in Rolous village, Cheung Ek commune, Dangkor district, Phnom Penh.
The suspect fled after starting the fire but was arrested the next day in Koh Thom district, Kandal province.
The suspect, Sao Chit, 21, has been sent to court, according to the Phnom Penh Municipal Police.
Sarath urged the public to collaborate with authorities by reporting suspected locations of drug production, storage or use, allowing police to suppress such crimes. Reports can be made via the 670 hotline (free of charge) or on 093 456 888 / 011 24 8888.
Under the seventh-mandate government, drug-related crime has been identified as a top priority. The Anti-Drug Crime Department has strengthened cooperation with provincial–capital police units to suppress and prevent the spread of drug offenses in all forms, targeting the issue at its roots.
Additionally, the department has cracked down on numerous major drug cases in cooperation with relevant national and international institutions, including raids on entertainment venues that secretly enabled illegal drug use among youths.
