PHNOM PENH, Jul 19 (NNN-AKP) – Cambodia today burned 7.62 tonnes of drugs and illegal substances, to mark the International Day against Drug, officials said.
Gen. Chuon Sovann, vice chairman of the National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD), set fire on the drugs at a ceremony held on the southern outskirts of the capital, Phnom Penh.
Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s prosecutor, Chreng Khmao, said, the destruction of the drugs clearly demonstrated the kingdom’s firm commitment to combating all kinds of illicit drugs. “The courts won’t tolerate any drug criminals. We’ll punish them severely.”
He said, the drugs, including heroin, methamphetamine, ecstasy, ketamine and nimetazepam, among others, had been seized from criminals in Phnom Penh and four provinces, namely Svay Rieng, Kampong Chhnang, Prey Veng, and Takeo.
The country has no death sentence for drug traffickers. Under its law, someone found guilty of trafficking more than 80 grams of drugs could be jailed for life.
According to the NACD, during the Jan-Jun period of 2021, the authorities had arrested 7,259 drug suspects, in 3,258 cases, confiscating more than 850 kilograms of illicit drugs.– NNN-AKP
