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Cambodian Interior Minister Suggests Intelligence Gathering for Drug Crackdown
Cambodia's Minister of Interior, Sar Kheng, has indicated a desire to implement intelligence gathering and surveillance methods, similar to those used for tracking political activists, in the crackdown on drug trafficking. This statement comes in response to the increasingly large scale of drug seizures in recent years, highlighting the need for more advanced investigative techniques.
Cambodia's Minister of Interior, Sar Kheng, has expressed a desire to implement intelligence gathering and surveillance methods, akin to those used for tracking political activists, in the crackdown on drug trafficking networks. Speaking at a plenary meeting of the 5th mandate commune and sangkat councils in Phnom Penh on September 7th, the minister highlighted the escalating scale of drug-related crime. "When the police chief can monitor any activist, even down to the moment they enter the restroom, why do we not apply the intelligence system and methods we have used successfully to combat drug trafficking?" the minister stated. According to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sar Kheng, drug trafficking has grown significantly year by year. While past seizures involved quantities of only 4 to 5 kilograms, current operations are confiscating close to one ton of drugs. He explained that some of the seized drugs are transiting through Cambodia as part of international smuggling operations, while others are distributed to end-users within the country. He further noted that while previous investigations identified African nationals as major players in drug and dried cannabis smuggling, recent crackdowns have revealed perpetrators from countries such as the UK, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, and Singapore. Some of these individuals have prior offenses related to drug smuggling to their home countries. To eradicate drug-related issues at their root, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior urged police forces and local authorities to enhance the "Safe Village, Commune, Sangkat" policy and to provide relevant information on drug trafficking to the authorities. He also encouraged all police officers to fully share information with relevant parties without fear. In 2024, Cambodian authorities seized a total of nearly 15 tons of drugs. As of early 2025, approximately 6 tons of drugs have already been confiscated. Source: Kampuchea Thmey Security
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Kampuchea Thmey Security