Cambodian Interior Minister Sar Sokha has instructed sub-national authorities to implement rigorous, secret monitoring systems to combat drug-related criminal activity. During a conference reviewing the performance of commune and sangkat councils, Sokha suggested that law enforcement should apply the same high-level intelligence and surveillance techniques currently used to track activists to the investigation of drug networks.

Sokha noted that despite significant seizures of illicit substances, drug-related issues, along with gang violence and theft, remain prevalent at the local level. He emphasized that the intelligence capabilities already exist, stating, “When Phnom Penh and provincial police commissariats monitor activists […] they even know when that person goes to the bathroom. So why don’t we use the same intelligence system and surveillance methods on drug-related cases.”

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Data from the 2025 Safe Village-Commune Policy assessments highlighted varying levels of success across the country, with over 1,200 communes achieving top rankings while others were urged to improve their enforcement strategies. In 2025 alone, authorities reported nearly 28,000 arrests across 10,743 drug-related cases, resulting in the seizure of approximately 48,000 kilograms of illicit substances.

Local officials have expressed mixed perspectives on the directive. Some commune leaders noted that they already engage in preventative measures, such as awareness campaigns and coordination with police, yet struggle with recidivism among drug users. Meanwhile, civil society voices have urged a shift in focus. Ny Sokha, president of the rights group Adhoc, argued that targeting low-level users is insufficient. He stated that the government must prioritize the “root cause” by dismantling major trafficking networks and investigating corrupt figures who protect them.

Source: CamboJA News