NACD president Ke Kim Yan holds a meeting on a plan to draft a drug-free village and commune policy on August 18. NACD
The National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD) is preparing to send the draft of a new national policy on the establishment of drug-free villages and communes to the head of government for a review and decision. The new policy will add to the Kingdom’s stringent drug trafficking reduction mechanisms.
NACD chairman Ke Kim Yan chaired an August 18 meeting to review the contents of the policy and its guidelines.
“We aim to establish drug-free villages and communes – especially in the border areas – to strengthen and prevent cross-border drug trafficking and maintain security and public order. Additional benefits will be the improved wellbeing of the public and a reduction in their poverty, through peace, friendship and cooperation,” he said.
NACD secretary-general Meas Vyrith said on August 21 that the leaders of Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam had agreed to establish drug-free zones along the borders to prevent the spread of drug use and transnational trafficking.
In order for the mechanisms to be effective, Cambodia needs to formulate a national policy so it can engage more efficiently with its neighbours.
“For example, on the Thai border, we will partner with a Thai village or commune to create a drug-free zone. Without drugs on the border, there will no drugs in Cambodia. In the past, we exchanged experience with our neighbours and found it was a successful strategy. We will expand it into a nationwide framework, depending on our efforts to formulate this policy,” he said.
He added that the NACD had been preparing the draft for some time, and he expected it to be approved by the head of government in the near future.
“We are striving to ensure that the drug problems Cambodia is facing are reduced or eliminated. The best way to achieve this is to work alongside our neighbours, whose populations are also falling victim to narcotics. If they can cooperate effectively with us, we believe we can eliminate the scourge of illegal drug use,” he added.
Am Sam Ath, deputy director of rights group LICADHO, said drug problems remained a concern and were spreading locally, despite existing laws and reduction mechanisms.
“We know that the previous safe village-commune policy was unable to prevent all drug trafficking. Drug use may have actually increased in Phnom Penh, and has certainly spread to all corners of the Kingdom. It’s good that they are designing a newer, more robust policy,” he said.
However, he pointed out that if the policy was to be effective, police and law enforcement would have to fully participate in implementing it.
“If enforcement is to be fruitful and effective, all officials, especially police officers, must do whatever they can to stay away from drugs and increase education measures to keep the public away from both drug use and trade,” he added.
As of the first quarter of 2022, anti-drug department forces had investigated 1,694 drug crimes and arrested 3,710 suspects. This number was down by more than 20 per cent over the same period last year; however, the total weight of drug seizures was up by 19 times, with more than 3,400kg of illegal drugs seized.
