AKP Phnom Penh, March 06, 2026 -- Cambodian authorities cracked down on 10,743 drug-related cases in 2025, arresting 27,884 suspects, according to a senior anti-narcotics official.

H.E. Gen. Meas Vyrith, Secretary-General of the National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD), said law enforcement agencies and relevant institutions worked closely at both national and international levels to strengthen enforcement and dismantle organised drug trafficking networks.

The number of cases rose slightly from 10,630 in 2024, an increase of 113 cases, or 1.06 percent, while the number of suspects arrested climbed from 27,071 in 2024, up 813 people, or about 3 percent, he said.

H.E. Gen. Meas Vyrith disclosed the figures during the opening ceremony of the NACD’s annual conference reviewing its 2025 operations and setting priorities for 2026, held Thursday at the Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel.

Authorities seized 5.897 tonnes of narcotics in 2025, down sharply from 14.909 tonnes in 2024, a decline of 9.012 tonnes, or 60.45 percent, he said.

During the same period, authorities destroyed 12,212 cannabis plants, compared with 17,785 plants in 2024, a decrease of 5,573 plants. Meanwhile, seizures of dried cannabis rose to 525 kilogrammes, up from 142 kilogrammes the previous year.

Law enforcement agencies also confiscated 42.814 tonnes of chemical precursors used in drug production, a dramatic increase from 354 kilogrammes in 2024, he added.

In addition to enforcement operations, authorities carried out 14,946 administrative actions in 2025, compared with 1,092 actions in 2024.

The measures included the closure of 12 business premises, including guesthouses and karaoke venues, and 14,194 inspections and educational visits to establishments such as hotels, rental houses, bars, karaoke venues and clubs.

Authorities also held 740 meetings with business owners, attended by 34,707 participants, including 17,257 women, and conducted 1,163 rapid urine drug tests on 13,796 targeted individuals, detecting 1,510 positive cases, H.E. Gen. Meas Vyrith said.

By K. Rithy Reak