Hun Sen Warns Against Drug Use

(Photo: Khmer Sthabna)

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
26 June 2009

Cambodia is losing $50 million a year to drug abuse, the prime minister said Wednesday, warning of future damage to Cambodian society.

Hun Sen made his remarks to mark the National Day Against Drugs, in Phnom Penh. Cambodia is plagued with methamphetamine production and use, especially in the capital.

If each drug user spent $3 per day on drugs, $50 million per year is lost, Hun Sen said, adding that Cambodia could become “dangerous” if action isn’t taken.

“From now on, all relevant authorities, from village chiefs to provincial governors, should take action against drugs,” he said.

Ke Kim Yann, head of the government’s counter-drug authority, said drugs were a problem the world over.

Some drugs are locally produced; in 2007, police detained three men and seized three tons of drug-making equipment and supplies from a facility in Kampong Speu province.

More drugs are supplied out of the Golden Triangle region around Thailand, Burma and Laos, and are bought through Cambodia in Koh Kong province on the Thai border.

Cambodia has become a popular transit point for drugs, following a crackdown in Thailand in 2002.

Cambodia Marks International Anti-Drug Day [-Cambodia is not a country producing drug: Hun Sen]

Hun Sen claims Cambodia is not a country producing drug, yet large amount of drug-making materials are seized in Cambodia. What gives?

2009-06-26
Xinhua

About 10,000 Cambodian students, drug victims, police and government officials gathered at Olympic Stadium in the heart center of Phnom Penh to mark the International Anti-Drug Day on Friday.

Cambodia is not a country producing drug but it has suffered from drug issues lately if comparing with other countries in the region because drug criminals are trying to use Cambodia as transmit place to deal drug to other countries, Prime Minister Hun Sen told the ceremony.

He said that in 2007 about 46,000 people were estimated to have used drugs illegally. "We lost about 50 million U.S. dollars each year for using drug illegally. That money was spent illegally and not necessary."

Drug users are facing with AIDS because they used the same needle to inject drug. "We are concerned of them, and we succeeded to reduce AIDS spreading from 3 per cent in 1997 to 0.9 percent in 2009," he said.

"We have to join together to take actions timely and prevent the spreading of drug using across the country, and we have to educate people more and conducts public campaign regularly to promote people to understand about difficulties from drug issues," the premier said.

Hun Sen warned, "If officials from law enforcement agencies involve with drug deal, we have to punish more serious than others. "

He also announced that the government will build a new rehabilitation center of drug addicted people in Kompong Speu province. "We have always considered drug users are victims. Our students should have to stay away from drug. Don't try it," Hun Sen said.

The premier also thanked donor countries, UN and other partners who have always assisted Cambodia's drug enforcement agency. According to a report from the anti-drug authority, the enforcement unit of the Interior Ministry cracked 1,714 cases of drug last year and arrested 3,514 criminals.