December 4, 2024
PHNOM PENH – An Indian national has been detained after authorities uncovered a large-scale drug production operation in Kandal province. More than a tonne of illicit substances was seized, while two of the accused’s accomplices are reportedly at large.
The drug lab, located in Kphob Veng village of Takhmao town’s Kampong Samnanh commune, was discovered after local authorities responded to a fire at the scene on November 27. The local officials notified anti-drug units.
A December 1 Kandal Provincial Court press release – made public on December 2 – announced that during the raid, police seized a large quantity of materials, including 1,424.15 kilogrammes of MDMA pills, over 114 kilogrammes of MDMA powder and 593 kilogrammes of the chemical cellulose, along with production and processing equipment.
The release noted that three suspects have been named in the case.
One of them, named as 38-year-old Indian national Sarabjit, was apprehended at the crime scene on the night of the fire.
He has been charged under Articles 39, 40 and 45 of the Law on Drug Control for manufacturing, storing, trafficking and using illegal substances.
The two other suspects, identified as 22-year-old Indian national Sewak Singh and 24-year-old Pakistani national Monchi, are still at large. They are charged with manufacturing, storing and trafficking drugs in violation of Articles 39 and 40 of the same law. Authorities are currently hunting for them.
“After reviewing the case documents and evidence, the investigating judge at Kandal Provincial Court ordered that Sarabjit be remanded in pre-trial detention at Kandal Provincial Prison,” said the court statement.
In another recent case involving foreign drug peddlers, 10 Thai nationals, including four women, were brought before the Banteay Meanchey Provincial Court on December 3, following the seizure of over 10,000 pills of suspected drugs at a new building in O’Chrov commune, Poipet town, on November 30.
According to the National Police, the seized items included 9,580 red WY-branded pills, 1,130 orange WY-branded pills, 38 green WY-branded pills and 26 packages of white powder suspected to be drugs.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson disclosed that between 1 and 30 November 2024, the capital and provincial courts handled 354 drug-related cases involving 991 suspects, of whom 749 were detained.