Background
A five-day training course on drone operations was delivered to specialized officers of the National Police’s Department against Trafficking in Persons and Victim Protection. The program combined classroom instruction and practical exercises led by international and local trainers.
Training participants were instructed to obtain authorization from the National Police Commissioner and to coordinate with the unit that manages drone operations under the Central Security Department and relevant land authorities. The department expects to receive three drones from Australian instructors via the AIM SWAT program and will request formal registration and centralized management approval from National Police leadership.
Institutional Role
The closing ceremony was presided over by the Deputy National Police Commissioner (ឯកឧត្តម ឧត្តមសេនីយ៍ឯក ជីវ ផល្លី) and included the head of the anti‑human trafficking department (សុខ សំបូរ) and program representatives from AIM SWAT. International trainers named in the program materials included Matthew Davit Dyett and Eric Meldrim, who participated as course instructors and coordinators.
Operational Implications
The training emphasized technical operation, situational monitoring and the integration of drone-collected information into investigative workflows. Course graduates and focal instructors were advised to follow the department’s technical framework when deploying drones and to ensure equipment is managed through the formal registration and control process required by National Police leadership.
Key Developments
- 22 May 2026: Closing ceremony held at the General Commissariat of the National Police following a five‑day training program.
- Three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are slated for transfer from Australian trainers via the AIM SWAT program to the anti‑human trafficking department.
- Six focal instructors completed the course and were identified to support further in‑house training of police units.
- The course included instruction on using drone surveillance to support operations and investigative activities.
