Cambodia burns down drugs worth $22.7M

By VNA June 14, 2024 | 08:06 pm PT

Cambodian officers burn drugs inside a brick kiln during a drug destruction ceremony to mark the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, outside Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Friday, June 14, 2024. Photo by the National Authority for Combating Drugs

Cambodian officials on Friday announced that they have destroyed 4.1 tonnes of narcotic drugs and precursors worth US$22.7 million seized from across the Southeast Asian country.

Meas Vyrith, secretary-general of the National Authority for Combating Drugs, set fire to the illicit drugs and precursors at a ceremony held at an incinerator on the northern outskirts of the capital Phnom Penh.

He said the drug destruction was made to celebrate the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, which is observed annually on June 26.

Meas Vyrith emphasized that this amount of illicit drugs if sold to users, will cost around US$68 million.

According to the Anti-Drug Police Department, Cambodia nabbed 9,369 drug-related suspects, including 324 foreigners, during the January-May period, seizing a total of 4.71 tonnes of drugs.

According to Cambodia’s law, someone is found guilty of trafficking more than 80 grams of drugs can be jailed for life.