• Society

Sar Kheng Criticizes Drug Law Delay

• By Lay Sopheavotey
• and Teng Yalirozy
• March 24, 2023 10:55 AM

PHNOM PENH – Minister of Interior Sar Kheng has urged officials to speed up drug control law amendments which have been delayed for two years.

“How much more time do we need to study it? One or two years?” he said on March 21 at the closing ceremony of the results of drug control work in 2022 and direction in 2023.

“Why is it so difficult? Only some points need to be amended. Please speed up the work.”

The law is to be amended due to the discovery of a plant similar to marijuana. The National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD) proposed the amendment to clearly identify the type of plant.

The Justice Ministry started examining the amendment in 2020 but no decision has been made.

Sar Kheng was concerned about the mounting quantities of drugs confiscated. The authorities seized drug more than 14 tonnes in 2022, an increase of more than 300 percent compared to 2021.

To prevent drug crimes and protect citizens from drugs, Kheng instructed officials to strive to amend the law on drug control before this mandate ends as the national election is looming.

NACD secretary-general Meas Virith referred inquiries to the Ministry of Justice. Chin Malin, its spokesperson, could not be reached for comment.

Am Sam Ath, operations director of LICADHO, said the amendment is paramount as the drug has become modernized. It was necessary to keep up with the trend to be able to crack down.

“The relevant authorities should speed up their work to examine and decide the amendment,” he said. “There should not be a repeated reminder from the leader.”

He said some laws were quick to amend, but some faced a prolonged procedure as the importance varied. Laws related to politics tended to be amended in a short time while laws that serve the public interest needed time to be decided.

Drug trafficking is still a concern

NACD president Ke Kim Yan said the drug situation in Cambodia, especially smuggling, had not decreased last year. Drug trafficking, distribution and use did not decline and enforcement of the law on drug prevention was not implemented strictly.

Sam Ath of LICADHO added, “I don’t think there is a significant improvement. We are still at the concerning point.”

In 2022, authorities seized more than 14 tonnes of drugs. 6,390 drug cases were cracked down on, including 179 major cases, and 15,002 suspects were arrested, of whom about 14,000 were Cambodian.

In 2021, just over four tonnes of drugs and narcotics were seized and nearly 14,000 suspects were arrested.

“Mechanisms for controlling and controlling chemicals have not been effectively strengthened to respond to criminals’ acts,” Kim Yan said during the closing ceremony on March 21.

Kheng is also concerned that 50 percent of the more than 30,000 prison inmates are involved in drug cases.

Kheng urged the relevant parties, especially the Industry Ministry and the Ministry of Health to strengthen the import control and use of chemicals in companies and factories as well as continue to closely monitor the use of these chemicals.

He added that ministries and institutions, especially the Ministry of Justice, must coordinate with the judiciary at all levels to expedite the trials of drug cases.