25-1-2024 (SINGAPORE) A 59-year-old Singaporean man has been apprehended in Cambodia, suspected of involvement in drug trafficking activities. The arrest, which took place on January 22, saw a total of five foreign nationals being detained by the Cambodian Anti-Drug Department.
In an official statement released on January 24, the department disclosed that it successfully seized 1.51 tonnes of narcotics. The illicit substances were imported from Laos and intended for delivery to Taiwan.
The arrests, involving all male suspects, occurred simultaneously during raids conducted at 3:15 am on January 22. The targeted locations included the Steung Hav International Port in Preah Sihanouk province in the southwest of Cambodia, an undisclosed residence in Sihanoukville (the capital of Preah Sihanouk province), and a residential address in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh.
Among the apprehended individuals, two are Chinese nationals, and the remaining two are Taiwanese.
The Anti-Drug Department detailed the confiscation of 980kg of ketamine and 532kg of methamphetamine, commonly referred to as “Ice.” Additionally, authorities seized two fishing boats, a car, a motorcycle, and eight mobile phones during the operation.
Although Cambodia is not traditionally associated with the Golden Triangle – the notorious drug-producing region where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar converge – a 2023 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) identified the country as a “key transit” and production hub for the regional drug trade. Criminal syndicates reportedly establish bases in Cambodia and other strategic locations to mitigate risks.
