According to Khmer Times, three Thai citizens have been convicted of possessing and selling drugs, resulting in a life sentence and an 80 million Riel (about Bt723,000) fine from the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.
Phanthep Vithya, 44; Kroeungsak Maklikun, 35; and Narongrith Chakroeunsuk, 26, were caught with nearly 42 kilograms of ketamine and ecstasy in Phon Penh on August 31, 2022.
The fourth suspect, Sem Jam, 28, died in a shootout while attempting to flee the arrest.
Khmer Times Lieutenant Colonel Nuon Sothearith, deputy chief of the municipal anti-drug unit in Phnom Penh, stated that the four suspects were moving illegal drugs from Stung Treng province to Phnom Penh using two pickup trucks.
They tried to avoid inspection by speeding through the checkpoint and firing 10 shots at police officers.
The drugs were concealed under a layer of flowers in the truck's cargo bed.
In addition to drug possession, transportation, and trafficking, the three individuals are facing charges of unauthorized weapon possession under the Criminal Code, as well as money laundering under the Law on Anti-Money Laundering and Financing.
The seized items included four pistols, 12.18 kilograms of ketamine, 29.75 kilograms of ecstasy, other drug-related materials, two pickup trucks, and three plots of land.
