The Rapid Reaction Team of the Anti-Drug Department under the National Police has strongly denied false information spread by an anonymous TikTok account named “Bak Sei Cham Krong” regarding an October 16 anti-drug operation at Diamond Sky Entertainment, a rooftop nightclub in the capital’s Tonle Bassac commune, Chamkarmon district.
The anonymous TikTok account accused the authorities of releasing “over 200 arrested Chinese nationals” in exchange for $30,000 per person, and that the department’s director, Khoeng Sarath, “accepted $1 million to allow the club to resume normal operations”. The post claimed that such corruption made citizens question how they could live under such a government.
In a November 19 statement, the Anti-Drug Department categorically rejected these accusations, stating that the claims were baseless, misleading and deliberately distorting the truth. The department said the propaganda had seriously damaged the honour and reputation of both its leadership and the officers who work day and night to implement government directives in the national fight against drugs.
The department stated that during the crackdown at the karaoke establishment, specialised forces — acting under the instructions and in coordination with the Phnom Penh Municipal Prosecutor and the Phnom Penh Municipal Police — conducted a direct raid targeting the trafficking, distribution, facilitation and use of illegal narcotics.
During the operation, 257 individuals were detained, including 107 women. They included 62 Cambodians (22 women) and 195 foreigners (85 women), and over 6 kilogrammes of drugs were seized.
Based on interrogations and questioning, the authorities determined that 35 individuals (20 women) were directly involved in drug use: 6 Vietnamese (5 women), 24 Chinese (14 women), 1 Japanese woman and 4 South Korean men. Of them, 34 individuals (20 women) were expelled from the country, and one Korean national holding Cambodian citizenship was sent to a drug rehabilitation centre.
“Out of the total, 211 individuals (79 women) were found not to be involved in any crimes — 62 Cambodians and 149 foreigners. They were educated and allowed to return home. Meanwhile, 11 Chinese nationals (5 women) and the seized drugs have had case files submitted to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court,” the department further explained.
The department added that it is now cooperating with relevant law enforcement agencies to identify the owner of the TikTok account and pursue legal action accordingly.
