The Ministry of Interior’s Anti-drug Department conducted a sophisticated drug bust operation and seized more than 465kg of methamphetamine. Two Thai nationals were arrested during the this week raids.

The National Police said today that the crackdown operation was led by the anti-drug department, in cooperation with Phnom Penh Police and Phnom Penh municipal deputy prosecutor Vong Savath.

Following more than two months of painstaking investigations, officers raided two locations in the capital –one in Dangkor district and another in Sen Sok district.

The police said the drugs had come from Laos and were en route to an unnamed destination.

The two suspects in custody were named as Saelee Chaloemrat and Saeyang Thavon. Cases were being prepared to send the two men to court.

A day earlier, authorities in Banteay Meanchey province burned more than 3 kg of seized illegal drugs on August 10. The drugs had been seized across three provinces, and were destroyed to mark the June 26 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

The event was held with the theme “People first: stop stigma and discrimination, strengthen prevention”, and was presided over by Neak Yuthea, deputy secretary-general of the National Authority for Combating Drugs and Um Reatrey, provincial governor of Banteay Meanchey.

A total of 1,595 people, including local authorities, students and curious members of the public, attended the event.