Two men were formally charged with trafficking and storing drugs and detained yesterday following their arrests during raids last week that netted a 60 kg haul including heroin and crystal methamphetamine, an official said.
In Song, administration bureau chief at the Interior Ministry’s anti-drug department, said the suspects were awaiting trial at Phnom Penh’s Prey Sar prison yesterday.
Syla Loy was arrested at a hotel he owns in Ratanakkiri province’s Banlung City last Wednesday, and his alleged accomplice, Loung Sopha, was arrested in Phnom Penh the same day, Deputy National Police Commissioner Mok Chito said at a news briefing on Saturday.
They were provisionally charged on Sunday, and face fines of up to 100 million riel, or about $25,000, and 20 years to life in prison if convicted, Mr. Song said.
Meas Vyrith, secretary-general of the National Authority for Combating Drugs, said yesterday that a temporary committee to unpack the drugs was awaiting a court order to unseal the packages.
Police are still working to uncover the drug ring, Mr. Song said.
