PHNOM PENH, Jun 15 (NNN-AKP) – Cambodia yesterday, destroyed multi-million U.S. dollars’ worth of narcotics and precursor chemicals, seized from across the country, officials said.
Meas Vyrith, secretary-general of the National Authority for Combating Drugs, set fire to the illicit drugs and precursor chemicals, at a ceremony held at an incinerator on the northern outskirts of the capital, Phnom Penh.
He said, the drug destruction was made to celebrate the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which is observed annually on Jun 26.
“A total of 4.1 tonnes of illicit drugs, with a trafficking market value of about 22.7 million U.S. dollars, was burned down at this event,” he told reporters. “With this amount of illicit drugs, if sold to users, they could cost between 67 and 68 million dollars.”
“This amount of seized drugs, if not timely confiscated, would adversely affect millions of people,” Vyrith said.
Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s prosecutor, Chreng Khmao, said, those destroyed drugs included heroin, methamphetamine, ecstasy, ketamine, nimetazepam, cocaine, and dry marijuana.
Besides the illicit drugs, a total of 3.25 tonnes of precursor chemicals was also burned down at the event, he said.
According to the Anti-Drug Police Department, Cambodia nabbed 9,369 drug-related suspects, including 324 foreigners, during the Jan-May period of this year, seizing a total of 4.71 tonnes of narcotics.
The kingdom 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.– NNN-AKP
