Chinese drug syndicates shifting meth, ketamine manufacturing networks to Cambodia
June 28, 2022
by South China Morning Post

A cross-border operation between police in China’s southern Guangdong province and counterparts in Cambodia have seized 350kg (772lbs) of crystal methamphetamine in a series of raids, shown in recently released footage by Chinese state media. Police say they also arrested 49 people in both countries over their alleged role in the trafficking network. Anti-narcotics agencies say Cambodia is fast-becoming the new centre of the Asian drug trade, with Chinese gangs manufacturing meth, Ecstasy and ketamine in the country.

In full:
https://english.cambodiadaily.com/news/ ... ia-178766/

^^ More on the above topic:

NGOs urge Cambodia to crack down on Chinese drugs
Methamphetamine use is spreading as Chinese drug lords establish footholds in the country.
By RFA Khmer
2022.07.07
NGOs are urging government authorities to enact tougher measures against Chinese drug lords operating in Cambodia, as methamphetamine use continues to surge in the Southeast Asian country.

The calls came following news this week of the arrest in Sihanoukville of seven Chinese nationals who set up a factory in the coastal province to make the drugs from smuggled ingredients.

Authorities also seized 14 tonnes (15.4 tons) of drug precursors and production equipment during the arrests, according to a report on the National Police Facebook page on Tuesday. The 7 arrested suspects will next be sent for processing in Cambodian courts, police authorities said.

Drug use has now spread from Sihanoukville city to the suburbs and will eventually spread even farther into the country, leading to kidnapping and violence by criminal gangs, Cheap Sotheary — provincial coordinator for the rights group Adhoc — told RFA this week.

All drugs confiscated by authorities should be immediately destroyed, she added.

“We are concerned that many of these confiscated drugs are being stored and that some may be taken out and removed, as some authorities in the past turned out to be drug traffickers themselves.
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambod ... 51320.html