The Stung Treng provincial anti-drug bureau and Sesan district police cracked down on an illegal marijuana cultivation operation in Nheun village, in Sesan district’s Sdao Commune on July 19. Police
Two farmers were arrested and placed in detention by the Stung Treng Provincial Court in connection with the illegal cultivation of more than 700 marijuana plants on July 19. They face up to two years in prison and a fine of four million riel (about $975).
The provincial court questioned and charged a man and a woman with illicitly growing psychoactive plants under Article 38 of the Law on Drug Control, according to Chhum Seang Hak, spokesman for the provincial court.
“The court has already put them in pre-trial detention at the provincial prison on charges of illegal cultivation of narcotics,” Seang Hak told The Post on July 25.
According to Article 38, anyone who intentionally violates the provisions of this law and the regulations relating to the cultivation of narcotic plants will be punished by imprisonment from six months to two years. The perpetrator will also be ordered to pay an additional fine of one million to four million riel (about $245-$975).
In addition, if the offense is committed for the purpose of distribution, production or trade, it states the person shall be punished by imprisonment for two to five years and may be subject to an additional fine of four million to 10 million riel (about $975-$2435).
The provincial anti-drug bureau and Sesan district police cracked down on the illegal operation in Nheun Village, in Sesan district’s Sdao Commune after receiving a tip-off from the local community via the NoDrug app.
Police then discovered marijuana at two different locations with a total of 767 plants. They cut and burned 255 plants at the first location and arrested the two suspects.
At the second location, 512 marijuana plants were found and destroyed on-site, but the owners of the plantation managed to escape, according to the National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD).
Seang Hak said the court will investigate and take further action against the person or persons who escaped or are involved.
In a separate case, the Anti-Drug Department acted against cross-border drug trafficking, arresting two Chinese men and confiscating more than 200kg of illegal drugs in Phnom Penh.
The suspects, unnamed, are 41 and 42 years old. The evidence seized includes a total of over 200kg of ketamine, two cars and two mobile phones, according to the Anti-Drug Department on July 24.
NACD secretary-general Meas Vyrith noted on July 22 that in the first six months of the year, 5,656 drug cases were investigated and 13,955 people were arrested. He added that over five tonnes of drugs were seized during the period.
