A joint taskforce against illegal weapons that was formed at the end of September has resulted in Phnom Penh municipal and commune police seizing 25 AK-47s at a house in the capital’s Praek Pnov district.

Another three AK-47s were seized in Kampot and Pursat provinces. In total, eight suspects were arrested during the raids.

Municipal police said they are continuing their search for a ringleader and any others involved.

Pongsang commune police chief Bon Tharan told The Post that the case was managed by the Phnom Penh municipal police.

“The people who hid the firearms are those that live in the area. They hid the weapons, burying them in holes about four metres from their houses,” he said.

On the raid, Tharan said police located the hidden weapons and detained the owner of the house – identified as Von Leng – who buried all 25 AK-47s.

“The suspect resides in Pongsang commune, Praek Pnov district,” Tharan said. “He does not work for the government [which allows security forces to carry weapons]. He studied electrical engineering and has no wife.”

The municipal police report said that officers detained eight suspects and confiscated 28 AK-47s in total from raids in Phnom Penh and Kampot and Pursat provinces as of September 28.

Deputy chief of the National Police Chay Kim Khoeun said the police are still working on the case.

“We are currently investigating the case, and as such we are unable to provide further details at this time,” said Kim Khoeun.

The police report said that of the 28 rifles that were confiscated, 25 were buried in Pongsang commune, Praek Pnov district, Phnom Penh; two were found in Techo Kbal Domrei village, Kampot province; and the other was discovered in Krakor district, Pursat province.