The accused were brought to court, among those was Chea Chung, Nhiek Bun Chhay's former adviser, who was sentenced to 25-year jail and fined 100 million riels (~$25,000) (Photo: Bunnak, Koh Santepheap)Foreigners get 120 yrs jail in Cambodia drugs bust
Jan 11, 2008
AFP
PHNOM PENH - FOUR Chinese nationals and a Thai man arrested last year in Cambodia's largest-ever drugs bust have been jailed for a combined total of 120 years, a court official said on Friday.
The five were among 21 people seized in April, during a police raid on a massive drugs laboratory located on a plantation 50 kilometres from the capital Phnom Penh.
Police discovered two tonnes of chemicals used in the production of 'yaba', a cheap and potent methamphetamine widely used throughout Southeast Asia.
Another tonne of drug-making chemicals was later found in Phnom Penh.
The Thai, along with three Chinese men, were sentenced on Thursday to 25 years each, Judge Iv Kimsry said, adding that a Chinese woman was jailed for 20 years.
A sixth suspect who has fled to Thailand was jailed in absentia for life, he said.
'The court found them guilty for involvement in illegal drug production,' the Judge said. 'It's the largest drug trial ever seen in Cambodia.'
Fourteen Cambodians also arrested at the scene were acquitted after the court determined that they had been tricked into thinking they were employed to spray chemicals on farmland, Judge Iv Kimsry said.
April's bust was the first evidence of large-scale drugs production in Cambodia, which is an increasingly popular trafficking point for narcotics after neighbouring Thailand toughened its stance on illegal drugs in 2002.
The five were among 21 people seized in April, during a police raid on a massive drugs laboratory located on a plantation 50 kilometres from the capital Phnom Penh.
Police discovered two tonnes of chemicals used in the production of 'yaba', a cheap and potent methamphetamine widely used throughout Southeast Asia.
Another tonne of drug-making chemicals was later found in Phnom Penh.
The Thai, along with three Chinese men, were sentenced on Thursday to 25 years each, Judge Iv Kimsry said, adding that a Chinese woman was jailed for 20 years.
A sixth suspect who has fled to Thailand was jailed in absentia for life, he said.
'The court found them guilty for involvement in illegal drug production,' the Judge said. 'It's the largest drug trial ever seen in Cambodia.'
Fourteen Cambodians also arrested at the scene were acquitted after the court determined that they had been tricked into thinking they were employed to spray chemicals on farmland, Judge Iv Kimsry said.
April's bust was the first evidence of large-scale drugs production in Cambodia, which is an increasingly popular trafficking point for narcotics after neighbouring Thailand toughened its stance on illegal drugs in 2002.
