A Ministry of Defence staffer with the rank of major was arrested on Tuesday, allegedly while dealing drugs in Battambang’s Kamrieng district.

Kamrieng district police deputy chief Thith Kul said yesterday that the suspect, 52-year-old Hong Pov, was found with 3,000 tablets of methamphetamine, which were seized by police along with a pistol and a car.

The arrest took place in Boeung Raing commune’s O’Da village and was part of a joint operation between the Ministry of Interior’s anti-drug department, Battambang provincial police and Kamrieng district police, Kul said.

Kul declined to say what function Pov performs within the Ministry of Defence in order “to preserve the ministry’s honour”. In a photo released by the police, Pov’s uniform can be seen folded in his hands.

Pov was sent to the provincial police station where he was provisionally charged, according to Battambang provincial anti-drug office deputy chief Sean Sonal, adding that Pov will be sent to Battambang Provincial Court today.