The National Police’s anti-drug department is continuing its investigation after seizing over 60kg of chemical substances believed to be intended for the production of illegal drugs, at a mango plantation in Yeay Mao Pich Nil commune’s Srol village of Kampong Speu province’s Phnom Sruoch district on May 20.

Department deputy director In Song said on May 22 that its experts had not yet made a final report on the arrest of suspects or the seizure of the chemicals.

“We have not closed the investigation yet. Of course, some potential evidence was seized, but experts have not identified or weighed it yet,” he said, declining to elaborate further due to the ongoing inquiry.

A district police officer who asked not to be named said on May 22 that the anti-drug department led the raid in the district, and local authorities were only assisting them.

According to the officer, the operation took place at 8pm on May 20 at a mango plantation in Srol village, wherein they confiscated over 60kg of some chemical substances suspected to be used for producing drugs, but no arrests were made.

“They checked the whole place to find evidence of drug production,” he said, adding that they were following additional leads for investigation in order to arrest other accomplices.

Provincial police chief Sam Samuon said on May 22 that the anti-drug department raided the mango plantation because they suspected that it was an illicit drug manufacturing site.

“Police did not arrest anyone at the mango plantation, but three Chinese nationals were brought there from Phnom Penh by the anti-drug department to show them the site,” Samuon said.