Five men and one woman stood trial at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday on allegations of illegally trafficking 25 packages of methamphetamines in January.

The accused were identified as Ngoy Socheath, 20, Nour Sineath, 31, Heng Ponna, 32, Yim Sovannara, 24, Som Oun, 24, and Tan Mary, 20.

“Sovannara, Mary and Oun were arrested in Sen Sok district on January 6, and after their arrest, police seized eight small packages of methamphetamines from them,” presiding judge Kor Vandy said.

“Socheath, Sineath and Ponna were arrested in Daun Penh district’s Chaktomuk commune five days later, and police seized 17 small packages of drugs from them.”

All six denied the accusations, claiming they were drug users but not traffickers.

Socheath claimed he bought the 17 packages of meth to use recreationally with friends.

“I am not a drug trafficker, only a user. I bought these drugs for my own use, not to sell or distribute to people,” he said.

Sovannara provided a similar story, although he said the drugs belonged to a man named Moeng, who escaped during the police raid.

Judge Vandy said the court will not issue a warrant for Moeng’s arrest because they do not have enough information or evidence to identify him.

The verdicts will be handed down on August 30.