Three Vietnamese women were held on Thursday in pre-trial detention by the Siem Reap Provincial Court for involvement in the drug trade in Siem Reap town’s Kokchak commune.

Provincial deputy police chief Um Amara identified the women as Thi Nhi, 30; Le Thi Keo Van, 21, and Pham Thi Than Phuong. The accused were charged with dealing drugs under Article 40 of the Law on Drug Control.

“They were charged and put in jail already,” he said.

The authorities found a package of methamphetamine and some other drug paraphernalia in their residence on Wednesday. After screening their urine, traces of drugs were detected, said Amara.

Five mobile phones were also seized from the residence.

In a separate case, Stung Treng province’s Borei O’Svay Sen Chey district police arrested two people for selling 586 tablets and three packages of methamphetamine in Preah Romkil commune on Tuesday.

The two suspects, a man and a woman, are residents of Chheb district in Preah Vihear province.

Police confiscated the substances and one motorbike and forwarded the case to court, said the National Police.

Stung Treng provincial Anti-Drug Office chief Chem Phanith identified the accused as Pai Seng Chan, 40, and his wife, Foy Lay, 42. The two were likewise charged with dealing in drugs under Article 40 of the Law on Drug Control and sent off to the provincial prison.

“The husband and wife are dealers. My officers arrested them while they were selling drugs,” said Phanith.

The two, said Phanith, confessed to their crime, saying that they sold drugs so they could use the money to support their family. The drugs, they said, were bought from an unknown man.

Authorities are now searching for their accomplices.

Provincial court spokesman Yin Srang could not be reached for comment by press time.