Over six tonnes of narcotics and related materials, seized by the Kandal Provincial Court and the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, were incinerated on August 6, even as another tonne was recently discovered in Phnom Penh.
The destruction took place at the Kandal Provincial Drug Rehabilitation and Reintegration Centre, as part of ongoing observations of the June 26 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, themed “Together, prevent, suppress and eradicate the root causes of the drug problem in Cambodia”.
The materials were exhibits of evidence in final verdicts issued by the Kandal Provincial Court and Phnom Penh Municipal Court. They were collected from 209 cases in Kandal and 133 cases in the capital.
The substances destroyed included various types of drugs, chemical precursors, and other materials related to the production, trafficking and use of drugs that could be safely incinerated — totalling 6.357 tonnes.
The ceremony presided over by Chin Malin, secretary of state for the Ministry of Justice, Nou Sakhon, chairman of the Kandal Provincial Council, and Kuoch Chamroeun, governor of Kandal Province.
On the same day, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court handled a case which saw over a tonne of narcotics seized, and multiple warrants issued.
A court spokesperson noted that on August 6, the court dealt with criminal case No. 4526, dated August 5, involving the narcotics ketamine (993 kilogrammes) and MDMA (7.3 kilogrammes).
Two male suspects were charged: Lai Jui Chien, 32 years old, and Roeun Rin, 41 years old.
Seven of their associates remain at large. The group is accused of being involved in illegally transporting, trafficking and storing drugs, as well as money laundering, in Phnom Penh and Preah Sihanouk province since September 2024.
These offenses are punishable under Articles 40 and 48 of the Law on Drug Control and Article 38 of the Law on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism.
After questioning the two detainees and examining the evidence, an investigating judge ordered the temporary detention of both men.
