During the first two weeks of September, customs and immigration officers at Phnom Penh’s new Techo International Airport seized a total of over 140 kilograms of illegal drugs. Authorities cracked down on five separate cases, arresting seven people who were trying to smuggle contraband out in their luggage.
According to the General Department of Customs and Excise, enforcement officers in the departure terminal intercepted three foreigners on September 9 carrying 146 packets of dried marijuana weighing more than 73 kilograms, along with over six kilograms of heroin. Just the day before, on September 8, another foreign traveler was caught with 19 small packets of crystal meth totaling 186 grams.
Looking back a bit further, on September 6, customs officers found 28 packets of marijuana weighing nearly 28 kilograms in a foreigner’s luggage. On September 3, relying on global travel assessment systems and airport scanning equipment, officers targeted a departing suspect and pulled 71 packets of marijuana weighing over 34 kilograms from his belongings. Earlier still, on September 2, a Malaysian passenger bound for Taiwan was nabbed on the spot after hiding 81 small packets of heroin in their carry-on items.
