The Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Wednesday convicted three Cambodian men of drug trafficking, and sentenced each of them to 12 years in prison after they were busted by anti-drug police last year while carrying more than 300 grams of a substance that contained crystal methamphetamine, also known as ice.
Oum Sovanna, 44; Hip Sothea, 41, and Mok Kimleang, 30, were arrested December 7 in the midst of a drug deal in Pur Senchey district.
“They are charged with drug trafficking under Article 40 of drug trafficking laws,” Presiding Judge Chuon Soreasey said in court Wednesday.
Judge Soreasey noted that while the trio was busted doing a deal for 300 grams of ice, they had only been convicted for possessing 34.28 grams, as analysis had shown that the bulk of the seizure was made up of non-illicit substances.
The judge also ordered the men to each pay a fine of 20 million riel (about $5,000).
