Cambodia is experiencing its worse spate of drug trafficking
incidents and a rise in the manufacture of illicit substances despite
the Government’s anti-drug campaigns, according to a report from the
Cambodian National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD) presented
during its annual meeting in Phnom Penh on March 12.
The report said that NACD and relevant agencies investigated 818 cases
involving drugs, and put a stop to many drug trafficking networks and
gangs.
The campaigns resulted in the arrest of 1,788
criminals from 14 countries, 81 kilograms of drugs and more than 50
tonnes of chemicals used to produce drugs.
Cambodian Deputy
Prime Minister Ke Kim Yan, who is also NACD Chairman, requested the
relevant organisations to strengthen anti-drug activities, particularly
to enhance responsibility, skills and cooperation with neighbouring
countries.
In 2011, Cambodia passed a new drug control law
in which people found guilty of trafficking more than 80 grams of drugs
will receive a life-sentence. The country also signed the ASEAN leaders’
declaration on drug-free ASEAN by 2015 in April 2012.
NACD
estimates that there are 4,000 drug addicts and nearly 3,000 people
undergoing detoxification in the country. However, the United Nations
Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) says the actual figure may be much
higher, and these addicts are an important bridge in the international
drug trafficking network.-VNA