A Thai woman was arrested with 30kg of methamphetamine on December 5 at Boeung Raing commune’s Svay Thom village, in Battambang province’s Kamrieng district.

Deputy National Police chief Mak Chito told The Post on December 6 that police arrested Phanphom Rattana, 31, who lives in Bo Rai district’s Nong Bon commune, in Thailand’s Trat province, for cross-border drug trafficking.

“Our expert forces are collaborating with Thai police in searching for the ringleader and accomplices in Thailand,” he said.

According to Chito, after the crackdown, Phanphom and the drugs were handed over to the Battambang provincial anti-drug police before being referred to court.

Chito said Cambodia used to be the second country for cross-border drug traffickers to ship drugs into a targeted third country. But now, Cambodia has become their target country.

“Our research shows that 30 per cent of cross-border drug trafficking offences are committed by criminals in Cambodia, while the remaining 70 per cent involve transport to third countries,” he said.

Battambang provincial deputy police chief in charge of drug crime Koy Heang told The Post that after the interrogation on December 6 morning, the suspect was sent to the Battambang Provincial Court for further legal actions.

The confiscated evidence including 30 big packs of methamphetamine weighing 30kg, two mobile phones, two bank books and a passport were also handed to the provincial court.

“We have some clues about the criminal network in Cambodia and Thailand,” Heang said.

He said besides sending the suspects and evidence to court, the police are working with the Ministry of Interior’s anti-drug department to expand the cross-border collaboration with Thai authorities in searching for a ringleader and other related people both in Cambodia and in Thailand.

On December 6, Investigating Judge Hong Tith Molika placed Phanphom in pre-trial detention on charges of “illegal transportation and trafficking of drugs”, according to provincial court spokesman Phan Ratana.