A senior anti-drug police official has urged public participation in a new anti-drug campaign, to make the dream of a drug-free Cambodia a reality.

During a March 12 public event dubbed “Your Turn”, Neak Yuthea, acting secretary general of the National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD), reiterated that the seventh mandate government has set an end to illegal drugs as a top priority. He explained that Prime Minister Hun Manet’s directive 001 was testament to this. 

Manet has likened the directive to “clearing duckweed from a pond”.

“Public participation in combating drugs is what the prime minister expects. If people take part, both as individuals and at the family level, the country will be free of drugs and their associated threats,” he said.

Yuthea urged the public to report any drug related crimes to the police hotline 1233, and suggested they download the NACD’s mobile app if they wanted to learn more about drug treatment and prevention.

Last week, from March 4 to 10, a total of 353 people were arrested for drug-related crimes, according to Ministry of Interior spokesperson Touch Sokhak. 

“Drugs, no matter whether in Cambodia or some other country, are the source of many other crimes, from petty robberies to murder, as well as transnational crimes,” he said.

“That’s why the government has placed combating narcotics as one of its top priorities,” he added.

The government is currently carrying out a nation-wide drug testing campaign of all civil servants and state employees. 

Each member of the police and armed forces was tested recently, with at least 160 police officers dismissed after they returned positive tests. 

The results from the ongoing civil service are not yet available.

The prime minister has repeatedly said that there is no place in his government for anyone involved with drugs, whether through their use or distribution.