In brief
Cambodia’s Anti‑Drug Department announced a 16.3% increase in drug‑related arrests from January to October 2026, detaining 25,360 suspects and confiscating 4.26 tons of illicit drugs versus 5.48 tons in 2025. The crackdown also seized 73 pistols and 27 homemade rifles, although the total drug seizure dropped by 1.2 tons. Foreign nationals made up 25% of the detainees, with 1,248 foreign suspects from 25 different nationalities.
Phnom Phnom, Nov. 1 – Cambodia’s Anti‑Drug Department (ADP) said on Sunday that it had detained 25,360 drug suspects from January to October 2026, a 16.3 percent rise from the 21,800 arrested during the same period last year.
Xinhua reported that 48.3 percent of the detainees were classified as traffickers, manufacturers, possessors or transporters, while 51.7 percent were identified as users. Foreign nationals accounted for 1,248 of the suspects, representing 25 different nationalities.
The report listed 4.26 tons of illicit drugs and 537 kilograms of dry cannabis seized in 2026, a decline from the 5.48 tons and 516 kilograms seized in 2025. 73 pistols and 27 homemade rifles were also confiscated. The seized narcotics largely consisted of ketamine, ecstasy, heroin, crystal methamphetamine, methamphetamine pills, cocaine and cathinone.
Cambodia does not impose the death penalty for drug offences, but national law allows life imprisonment for individuals convicted of trafficking more than 80 grams of illicit drugs.
