The Anti-Drug Department police arrested a Laotian man and confiscated almost 10kg of drugs while he was transporting them into Cambodia.
The operation was carried out in cooperation with the Stung Treng provincial anti-drug police. The arrest was made by authorities on February 13 in a forest corridor in the province’s Borei O’Svay Senchey district.
Provincial anti-drug bureau chief Chem Phanith told The Post on February 14 that the 24-year-old Laotian was identified as Phipmann Chankan, a resident of Champasak province.
“The suspect was arrested while carrying 10 large packages of methamphetamine weighing 9.86kg,” he said.
Prior to the arrest, forces hidden along the Cambodia-Laos border reported that a group of suspects had infiltrated the forests, Phanith said.
He said one of the four men – carrying a blue bag with suspicious items in it – fled the scene and entered Cambodia illegally through a forest corridor.
His forces – in cooperation with the Anti-Drug Department – conducted a search operation and found the suspect. He was arrested after a search produced the drugs.
“During questioning, the suspect said he was merely a mule, hired to transport the drugs across the border. We are preparing a case, which will be sent to provincial court,” he said.
Provincial court spokesman Chhum Seang Hak confirmed to The Post that the case had reached the court on the afternoon of February 14.
“Currently, the suspect is under questioning by the prosecutor,” he said.
Minister of Interior Sar Kheng said last week that drug crimes have swept Cambodia in recent years, causing great concern to the progress of the Kingdom’s socio-economic development.
