Cambodia Sees Rise in Drug Arrests, But Seizures Drop 61%

Cambodian police

Cambodia has witnessed an increase in drug-related arrests in early 2025, even as the total volume of narcotics seized has significantly declined, according to a report from the Anti-Drug Department (ADP) released on Tuesday.

Authorities detained 6,048 drug-related suspects between January and March, marking a 10% increase from 5,489 arrests during the same period in 2024. Among them, 192 were foreign nationals from eight different countries.

Despite the rise in arrests, the total amount of drugs confiscated dropped sharply. Officials seized 1.4 tons of illicit substances in the first quarter of 2025—a 61% decrease compared to the 3.65 tons recovered in the same period last year. The majority of the confiscated narcotics included ketamine, ecstasy, heroin, crystal methamphetamine, methamphetamine pills, cocaine, and cathinone.

Cambodia enforces strict drug laws but does not impose the death penalty for drug trafficking. However, individuals convicted of trafficking more than 80 grams of illicit substances face the possibility of life imprisonment.

Authorities have not yet provided a clear explanation for the decline in drug seizures, but the trend raises questions about changes in trafficking routes, enforcement strategies, or smuggling methods.

-2025-03-02