PHNOM PENH, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Tuesday that any armed forces or officials involved in drug cases will be fired and blacklisted from future jobs in the government.

"Any civil servants, police officers and soldiers involved in drug use or drug cases will be dismissed from their jobs without any exception," he said at the closing ceremony of an annual meeting of the National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD) here.

"There is no more tolerance for those involved in illicit drugs," he added.

Hun Manet said besides disciplinary sanction, the offenders could also face criminal charges under the kingdom's law.

Meanwhile, the prime minister said that unlike some countries, Cambodia will not allow any investment in growing marijuana.

"I'd like to send a message to foreign investors that if you want to invest in planting marijuana in Cambodia, don't waste your time on riding a plane to Cambodia, it's useless because I will not approve this kind of investment," he said.

The Southeast Asian country has ramped up efforts in combating illicit drugs among armed forces in recent months, resulting in the dismissal and prosecution of dozens of police officers, soldiers and officials.

According to the NACD, Cambodia arrested 19,940 drug-related suspects in 2023, seizing a total of 2.97 tons of illicit drugs. Most of the confiscated drugs were heroin, ecstasy, ketamine, nimetazepam, cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, methamphetamine pills, and cathinone.

The kingdom has no death sentence for illicit drug traffickers. Under its law, those found guilty of trafficking more than 80 grams of illicit drugs could be imprisoned for life. Enditem

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