Stung Treng provincial Military Police are searching for a drug suspect after an operation netted more than 40kg of methamphetamine in Borei O’Svay Sen Chey district on October 23.

According to a National Military Police report, district military officers first conducted the operation at a border checkpoint while the suspect was delivering drugs by motorbike from Laos. The suspect dumped the motorbike and escaped on foot after the officers ordered him to stop. They then handed the case to the provincial Military Police.

National Military Police spokesman Eng Hy confirmed that evidence including the drugs and a motorcycle was sent to the provincial court on October 24.

“We are now searching for a suspect who fled during the operation. We cannot reveal much more information at this time,” he said.

Provincial court spokesman Chhum Seanghak confirmed the provincial prosecutor received the case on October 25.

“I have referred this case to the prosecutor. This case is still being investigated as the offender has fled,” he said.

In a separate case, police arrested a drug trafficking suspect in Chaom Chao II commune, in Phnom Penh’s Por Sen Chey district on October 21 and captured more than 1kg of drugs.

National Police’s anti-drug department director Loek Vannak said on October 25 that the suspect, Kith Sokha, was sent to court on October 24.

“We are looking into one more suspect involved in this case, but I cannot reveal the suspect’s identity,” he said.

According to a report released by the National Police on October 22, anti-drug department police investigated 1,333 cases of drug offences in the first nine months of the year, compared to 1,311 cases last year.

A total of 2,200 people have been arrested so far this year. Last year, 2,112 people were arrested with a total of 400.49kg of drugs.