Anti-drug authorities have reported that drug seizures in the first five months of the year fell by half, when compared to the same period last year.

From January to May this year, slightly more than two tonnes of narcotics and precursors were impounded, including 1.5 tonnes of hard drugs, 151 kilogrammes of dried marijuana, 12,212 marijuana plants and more than 549 kilogramme of chemical precursors.

According to Meas Virith, secretary-general of the National Authority for Combating Drugs (NCDM), 10,765 people were detained – including 862 women – in 4,134 drug-related cases.

Charges included trafficking, transportation, storage, processing, cultivation, facilitation, driving under the influence and the use of drugs.

In the same period last year, more than four tonnes were seized and almost 9,000 people were arrested. At the time, Virith commented on the nature of the busts.

“Across all of our operations, over 4,425 kilogrammes of drugs were seized. Most of the drugs are Methamphetamine, Ketamine or related substances,” he said.

National Police chief General Sar Thet, has ordered law enforcement officers to continue their operations, maintain their grip on drug crime prevention.

During a June 6 anti-drug operation review at the Ministry of Interior, Thet called for a focus on public education, particularly for parents, so they could ensure their children did not fall into a drug habit.

In addition, in order to suppress drug-related crime more efficiently, he instructed the Anti-Drug Department to cooperate more closely with all relevant institutions, units and authorities.

“The drug problem remains a global and regional concern, as well as in Cambodia. Drugs are destroying the future of young people, so we must work together to prevent and prosecute these crimes effectively,” Thet said.