Preah Sihanouk provincial governor Kuoch Chamroeun has directed town and district administrations to gather individuals without fixed addresses – with a particular focus on truck drivers – for drug testing. Users will be offered drug treatment services.

This directive was issued during a recent inspection of the National Centre for Voluntary and Community-Based Treatment Service and Rehabilitation for Drug Addicts, located in the province’s Stung Hav district.

Chamroeun expressed concern that despite several measures being taken by town and district officials to address this issue, the number of drug dealers in the province may not have decreased.

“Town and district authorities – along with the provincial police and military – are urged to participate in the implementation of this plan. They should conduct campaigns in any areas where the presence of drug dealers and users is notable, with the aim of eradicating the core of drug addiction,” he said.

“In particular, thorough testing of truck drivers is imperative. Should it be discovered that they have consumed illicit substances, they should be promptly directed to the national rehabilitation centre,” he added.

The governor also urged members of the public to notify village, commune and district authorities immediately if they encounter people involved in drug use, so officials can compel the individuals to undergo rehabilitation at the centre.

Ny Sokha, president of the rights group ADHOC, noted that the mitigation of the drug problem hinges on the authorities’ actions, primarily through imposing penalties on drug dealers.

He believed that enforcement operations targeting drug users alone may not address the issue effectively, as users are often victims of addiction.

“Conducting examinations for illicit substances and applying penalties will prove impractical, as the individuals in question are not drug traffickers but rather drug users. Consequently, this approach does not contribute to reducing the problem. A crucial course of action would be a rigorous crackdown on drug traffickers,” he said.