Background
The National Police of Cambodia conducts coordinated anti-narcotics operations that deploy provincial police units to locate, arrest, and process individuals suspected of drug trafficking, possession, and use. The National Police operates under the authority of the Ministry of Interior and coordinates interprovincial enforcement activities to address illicit drug distribution.
Cambodia’s drug control legal framework authorizes law enforcement agencies to detain suspects and seize controlled substances during criminal investigations and operational raids. Criminal cases involving narcotics are processed through the judicial system following arrest, seizure, and evidence documentation procedures.
Key Developments
On 22 May, nationwide anti-narcotics actions recorded 15 separate cases and resulted in the arrest of 29 individuals, according to National Police reporting. The operations were categorized as: 2 trafficking cases (3 persons arrested, including one female), 10 transportation/storage cases (23 persons arrested), and 3 use cases (3 persons arrested).
Reported seizures from the 22 May operations totalled 1,624.0 grams of methamphetamine (Ice) and 47.76 grams of ketamine.
Institutional Role
Five police units reported participation in the operations, with recorded activity in Battambang, Kampong Chhnang, Kandal, Phnom Penh, and Svay Rieng provinces. Provincial units executed arrests and collected physical evidence consistent with the categories of trafficking, storage/transportation, and personal use.
Operational Implications
Detailed, case-level figures reported by province show distribution of arrests and seizures: Battambang reported 2 possession cases (5 detained) and 1 use case (1 detained) with 2.62 grams of methamphetamine seized; Kampong Chhnang reported 2 use cases with 2 detained; Kandal reported 6 storage cases with 15 detained and 3.93 grams of methamphetamine seized; Phnom Penh reported 1 trafficking case with 1 detained and 47.76 grams of ketamine seized; Svay Rieng reported 1 trafficking case (2 detained, including 1 female) and 2 storage cases (3 detained) with 1,617.45 grams of methamphetamine seized.
These operational figures document the scope and provincial distribution of seizures and arrests on the specified date and can be used for case tracking and interagency coordination records.
