Two couples held on drug charges
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea / Khmer Times

An Australian man and his Cambodian girlfriend were yesterday charged by Kampot Provincial Court with drug use and possession.

Bun Sarath, a provincial anti-drug police officer, identified the accused as Robert Gary Knowles, 72, and his Cambodian girlfriend Meas Phary, 28.

“They were active drug distributors, who always brought drugs for sale to other foreign tourists in the province,” Mr Sarath said. “They were arrested after our provincial anti-drug police raided the old Australian man’s rented house while they were smoking drugs.”

Mr Sarath said they were arrested on Friday at about 4.30pm in Kampong Kandal commune.

After their arrests, police seized six big packages of crystal methamphetamine, five tablets of ecstasy, nine boxes of aphrodisiacs, as well as other related drug materials.

Mr Sarath added that police are now searching to arrest other foreign tourists involved with Mr Knowles’ activities.

Meanwhile, a 53-year-old-South Korean man and a 27-year-old Cambodian woman were arrested yesterday morning by police for drug use and possession in Phnom Penh.

Lay Sokhan, a Chroy Changvar district police officer, identified the suspects as Kor Hong Jin, 53, and Prum Srey Meas, 27.

He added that they were arrested at about 11am after police raided a hotel room Mr Hong Jin rented in Prek Leap commune.

“They were arrested with while they were smoking drugs inside a hotel room in Prek Leap commune,” he said. “After their arrests, police seized a small package of crystal methamphetamine as well as other related drug using materials.” He added that the suspects have been temporarily detained for questioning at the district police station.

They will be sent to the municipal court for questioning today.

miciur wrote: ↑Fri Dec 29, 2017 9:50 pm

Feel a bit sorry for Gary as well, that cache on the table don't look some big time dealer's stash, and I can't see 9 boxes anywhere.

Yes sorry too a bit. He is unlucky coz "barrang" and local police want show that they are very smarts and work hardly and successfully. I don`t know Garry but he could not manage his situation. If first step try to deal with police had no press and public pictures, and later everything easy.
It is a very small case 6 packs meth/ice ( all approx 350 mg) maybe 10 tablets "yama" and anythings are not illegal!! Illegal things value less then 150 box. If he will be a good assistant ( lawyer) and luck a bit he will keep off jail but need donate few peoples with portrait of Benjamin Franklin by dozens.
Notice: Same case in Phnom Penh with young khmer guy. Arresting less then 48 hours and 2000 USD.

miciur wrote: ↑Fri Dec 29, 2017 9:50 pm

Feel a bit sorry for Gary as well, that cache on the table don't look some big time dealer's stash, and I can't see 9 boxes anywhere.

Yes sorry too a bit.

cptrelentless wrote: ↑Fri Dec 29, 2017 11:58 pm Hotdigr will confirm this but two brits got nicked for 10g of weed in a road block, obvious not wearing helmet shit, got taken for $1400. No deals, no options, straight up in the hole or pay.

whiteribbon wrote: ↑Sat Dec 30, 2017 12:12 am

cptrelentless wrote: ↑Fri Dec 29, 2017 11:58 pm Hotdigr will confirm this but two brits got nicked for 10g of weed in a road block, obvious not wearing helmet shit, got taken for $1400. No deals, no options, straight up in the hole or pay.

That's ridiculous. Their negotiation skills were obviously not great. Don't get me wrong because of my previous statement, I fully support legalisation of drugs (and I believe in 10 to 20 years time it will be a reality) but let's separate coke, weed, 3fpm and xtc from ice and other crap. People that knowingly sell ice or other known dangerous and addictive substances should be prosecuted and imprisoned.