PHNOM PENH, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has recorded a significant rise in both the number of people arrested and the amount of narcotics seized in the first seven months of 2024, according to an Anti-Drug Department (ADP)'s report on Friday.
The authorities had detained 14,570 drug-related suspects during the January-July period this year, up 43 percent from 10,167 over the same period last year, the report said, adding that 482 suspects were foreigners with 14 nationalities.
"Some 5.46 tons of illicit drugs, 61.6 kg of dry marijuana, and 6,682 marijuana plants had been confiscated from those suspects' possession during the January-July period of 2024," the report said.
The authorities have also impounded 18 pistols, 12 homemade rifles, 81 cars, 1,055 motorcycles, 3,308 telephones and 312 scales, as well as some cash, the report added.
The seized drugs included heroin, ecstasy, cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, methamphetamine pills, cathinone and ketamine, among others.
According to the report, only nearly a ton of illicit drugs had been seized during the first seven months of 2023.
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.
He 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, a person found guilty of trafficking more than 80 grams of illicit drugs could be jailed for life. ■