Three foreign nationals accused of trying to smuggle heroin from Cambodia to Australia were charged yesterday with drug trafficking at Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

Twenty-four-year-old Nigerian Precious Chineme Nwoko, 19-year-old French national Charlene Savarino and 41-year-old Australian Yoshe Ann Paylor were charged with drug possession, transportation and trafficking.

“They were charged … under Article 40 of Cambodia’s Anti-Drug Law. They will now continue further questioning by the investigative judge,” said a senior anti-terrorism police official who asked not to be named.

The two women were arrested at Phnom Penh International Airport and the man was found at a rental house in Chamkarmon district on September 18.

“They were arrested while they were preparing to bring two kilograms of heroin to Australia,” the official said. Police are still seeking to arrest a fourth accomplice. Ly Sophanna, vice prosecutor of Phnom Penh Municipal Court, could not be reached.