PHNOM PENH, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has reported a spike in both the number of people arrested and the amount of narcotics seized during the first eight months of 2024, according to an Anti-Drug Department (ADP)'s report on Sunday.
The authorities had detained 17,574 drug-related suspects during the January-August period this year, up 42 percent from 12,356 over the same period last year, the report said, adding that 550 suspects were foreigners from 15 different nationalities.
A total of 5.75 tons of illicit drugs was confiscated from those suspects' possession in the first eight months of 2024, up 119 percent from only 2.62 tons over the same period last year, the report said.
Most of the seized drugs were ketamine, crystal methamphetamine, methamphetamine tablets, heroin, ecstasy, and cocaine.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said in a message to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26 that the fight against illicit drugs was a top priority.
"I would like to express our commitment and strong will to make the fight against illicit drugs a high priority of the seventh-mandate government," he said.
The prime minister ordered provincial and local authorities to stamp out drug distribution and usage at nightclubs and other entertainment facilities across the Southeast Asian country.
Cambodia has no death sentence for drug traffickers. Under its law, someone found guilty of trafficking more than 80 grams of illicit drugs could be jailed for life. ■
