A major drug bust in late July saw more than half a tonne of narcotics seized and two Vietnamese nationals taken into custody. The authorities are reportedly searching for another six members of the gang.
A spokesperson for the Phnom Penh Municipal Court confirmed that the court obtained the case file, dated July 30, on August 2.
Among the drugs seized were 291.39 kilogrammes of methamphetamine (ice), 199.8 kilogrammes of MDMA (ecstasy), 70.1 kilogrammes of heroin 943 grammes of ketamine.
The two suspects being held were identified as Phan Anhle, 36, and Nguyen Thanh Tam, 34. Six other suspects remain at large.
The two men are charged with transporting, trafficking, and illegally storing narcotic substances, as well as money laundering offences, committed across Phnom Penh and Kandal province between 2023 and July 24, 2025.
The charges fall under Articles 40 and 48 of the Law on Drug Control and Article 38 of the Law on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing.
After examining the case file, an investigating judge ordered the provisional detention of the two suspects.
On Sunday, August 3, police officers conducted 18 separate anti-drug operations across the Kingdom, arresting 40, including three women. Ten were held for trafficking, 20 for transportation and storage, and the remainder for using illegal narcotics. During the raids, 125.38 grammes of methamphetamine were seized.
