PHNOM PENH, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has arrested a local man for possessing and transporting illicit drug, seizing nearly 18 kg of narcotic, the country's Anti-Drug Department said in a news release on Wednesday.
The 20-year-old suspect, identified as Heng Samnang, was caught red-handed on a street while transporting the drug in the capital Phnom Penh's Tuol Kork district on Monday.
"A total of 17.92 kg of ketamine was seized from the suspect's possession during the crackdown," the news release said.
The Southeast Asian country has no death sentence for a drug trafficker. Under its law, someone found guilty of trafficking more than 80 grams of illicit drugs could be imprisoned for life.
According to the Anti-Drug Department, the kingdom detained 27,068 drug-related suspects, including 1,045 foreigners in 16 nationalities, in 2024, seizing a total of 14.9 tons of illicit drugs.
Most of the seized drugs were ketamine, crystal methamphetamine, methamphetamine tablets, heroin, ecstasy, and cocaine. ■
