A 31-year-old man was charged by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Tuesday with illegal drug trafficking and possession after nearly 2.5kg of narcotics was found at his home.

In Song, deputy chief of the Anti-Drug Police Department, said Sok Madly was arrested on Saturday evening at a rented property in Chamkarmon district’s Boueng Keng Kang II commune.

He said police seized 2.48kg of drugs in powder and tablet form, including ecstasy, ketamine, methamphetamine and nimetazepam, as well as two sets of weighing scales and a phone.

“Anti-drugs Department officials ended their investigation on Monday morning. An illegal drug trafficking and possession case was sent to court. The suspect was also sent to court,” Song said.

After being questioned by a court prosecutor on Monday afternoon, Madly was charged with illegal drug trafficking and possession under Article 40 of the Law on Drug Control, Song said.

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Tuesday ordered that Madly be sent back to the Anti-Drug Department on Wednesday for further questioning as the initial period of interrogation was insufficient, he said.

According to a National Police report, 61 suspects, including five women, were arrested in Phnom Penh and Battambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Speu, Kandal, Koh Kong, Tbong Khmum, Kampong Chhnang and Preah Sihanouk provinces for drugs offences on Monday.

Police confiscated 2.51kg of drugs, including ecstasy, ketamine, methamphetamine and nimetazepam, the report added.