Anti-drug police have arrested more than 5,500 suspects and seized over 300kg of drugs as evidence since January.

A report released by the National Authority for Combating Drugs and seen by The Post on Monday showed that from January 1 to April 5, a total of 5,546 suspects were detained, 87 of whom were foreigners.

Police also seized drugs in the form of pills and powder weighing nearly 120kg, 110 packets of unspecified drugs, 225kg of dried cannabis and 77,708 marijuana plants.

Besides, police impounded 26 vehicles, 657 motorcycles, 1,943 phones, 128 scales and 11 rifles and pistols in nationwide crackdowns.

“Of the 5,546 suspects, 3,133 were arrested and sent to court for trafficking, storing, processing and distributing drugs and growing addictive plants. The other 2,413 were drug users and have been sent to drug rehabilitation centres,” said the report.

In Phnom Penh on Monday, two suspects were placed in pre-trial detention after being arrested for drug trafficking.

The National Police’s anti-drug department director Loek Vannak told The Post on Monday that Soeurng Theava and Oeurng Dychanna, both 37, are being detained at Prey Sar prison.

“They were arrested on April 2-3 with more than 16kg,” he said.

The Svay Rieng Provincial Court on Monday also charged three Vietnamese nationals for trafficking, storing and processing drugs.

Court spokesman Tep Phalla identified the three as Troeng Voekphu, 35; Vo Hor Thoeurng, 27; and Ngo Thy Eang Than, 18.

He said they were arrested between March 31 and April 3 in three separate locations in Bavet town’s Bavet commune. More than 4kg of drugs and other items were seized in the operation.

A Svay Rieng provincial police report said on March 31 that police raided a rented house in the commune’s Kandal village and freed 15 Vietnamese nationals who had been confined in the house.

After questioning them, police checked other nearby rooms and seized some drugs before arresting the three.