Police have arrested five Chinese nationals in Preah Sihanouk province with nearly one ton of drugs in a raid that took place at three locations.
Preah Sihanouk police chief Chhuon Narin said on Thursday that five individuals were arrested the night of August 16 with more than 900 kilograms of drugs. He said police had confiscated 44 bags of white powder totaling around 924 kilograms, but did not mention what kind of substances were seized.
Narin added that police were questioning the five individuals and would face legal action.
“We are making the paperwork to send them … to a legal establishment and the prosecutor,” he said, referring to the provincial court.
A National Police report on the arrests said the substance was found to be ketamine. It also revealed that the raid occurred at three different locations: two in Sihanoukville Muoy and Bei communes and one in Prey Nob district’s Bit Traing commune.
Apart from the drugs, police also confiscated two boats, two motorcycles and one car.
Police have seized large hauls of drugs and precursors this year, following 4.7 tons of drugs and 84 tons of precursors seized in all of last year.
Police in March announced the seizure of some 700 kg of ketamine and other drugs, as an anti-drug official said most recent hauls were believed to be headed abroad to Australia, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand and other countries.
In May, more than 12 tons of drugs and precursors were seized from two labs on mango farms in Kampong Speu and a Phnom Penh BKK 1 condominium, leading to the arrests of five individuals.
