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Inside Minister Sar Sokha issued a directive to sub-national authorities to ascertain a “secret” monitoring system on drug-related criminals and to crack down on the actions utilizing the identical strategy used to watch activists.
On the opening of the convention to overview the achievements of the Fifth-Mandate Commune and Sangkat Councils on Monday, Sokha mentioned that drug-related issues are prevalent in sangkats (communes) regardless of the seizure of tons of medication in every case.
Over 400 communes surveyed confirmed that drug-related issues, gang violence, livestock theft, and playing happen at excessive charges on the native stage.
“The drug drawback just isn’t solely existent in Cambodia, but additionally the area. Now we have to take a look at it as an entire. As I’ve talked about earlier than, when Phnom Penh and provincial police commissariats monitor activists […] they even know when that particular person goes to the lavatory. So why don’t we use the identical intelligence system and surveillance strategies on drug-related instances,” he mentioned.
In accordance with Sokha, outcomes of Secure Village-Commune Coverage implementation competitors from 2022 to 2025 confirmed that 1,243 communes had been ranked first, 364 ranked second, and 41 ranked third. He suggested commune administrations which ranked third to do extra to implement the Secure Village-Commune Coverage to allow them to obtain higher outcomes sooner or later.
Final month, a second deputy sangkat chief from the Candlelight Celebration quota in Oddar Meanchey province was arrested by authorities and charged with “incitement to discrimination” and to “insult” in reference to a phone dialog.
Nam Sot, Rong Roeung Commune Chief in Stoung district, Kampong Thom province, mentioned that authorities in his commune beforehand arrested many individuals concerned in drug use, however they continued utilizing medicine even after receiving schooling and steering.
He additionally expressed concern concerning the rising variety of youngsters below the age of 15 in his commune who collect to smoke cigarettes round faculties.
“As preventive measures, the commune council and police maintain conferences and conduct consciousness campaigns at main and secondary faculties, in addition to in villages. We additionally conduct direct outreach with mother and father by means of faculties and college students,” he added.
In the meantime, Cheang Seavy, Kampong Popil Commune Chief of Peam Ro district, Prey Veng province, mentioned that authorities would maintain a gathering to introduce measures to watch drug-related offenses following the steering from the ministry.
“They already use preventive and monitoring measures. We frequently cooperate with the police. The measures embrace holding conferences with the commune council and regulation enforcement officers to develop additional plans.”
Adhoc president Ny Sokha referred to as on the federal government to focus on main drug kingpins and those that shield them, saying that that is essential to remove the drug drawback. As for the arrest of younger folks in villages and communes who use medicine, he mentioned they’re merely victims of drug abuse.
“What wants larger consideration is the foundation trigger. If we solely crackdown on individuals who use medicine on the native stage, I feel the issue is not going to disappear except we tackle the foundation trigger involving main corrupt figures and drug-trafficking networks. That must be cracked down,” he mentioned.
On July 21, 2026, authorities destroyed greater than 5 tons of medication seized from varied operations throughout “Worldwide Day In opposition to Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking” in Ponhea Lueu district, Kandal province.
A month later, on August 25, authorities destroyed over 4 tons of medication in Koh Kong province.
In 2025, Cambodian authorities cracked down on a complete of 10,743 drug-related instances and arrested almost 28,000 suspects linked to drug offenses. Authorities additionally seized roughly 48,000 kilograms of medication and drug substances and shut down 12 enterprise premises.
