Kambodschanisches Gericht verurteilt 10 Chinesen im Drogenfall zu lebenslanger Haft

SS: Radio Free Asia reports that a Cambodian court sentenced 10 Chinese nationals to life imprisonment and fined them 100 million riel (approximately $25,000) for drug trafficking and money laundering in a case involving 14 tons of chemical compounds and drugs, according to the Sihanoukville Provincial Court. The sentencing followed July 2022 raids in Sihanoukville, Phnom Penh, and three provinces, where authorities uncovered a methamphetamine production operation using smuggled ingredients. NGOs and experts, including Yong Kim Eng from the People Center for Development and Peace, criticized Cambodia for being a hub for Chinese drug operations and called for tougher enforcement. However, observers like Seng Vanly and Por Makara highlighted systemic corruption and collusion with powerful figures as key barriers to addressing drug crimes effectively. RFA reports that while Cambodia has increased cooperation with China to combat criminal activities, including recent deportations of fraud suspects, broader enforcement remains hampered by corruption and weak legal implementation.