Police have detained Kith Thieng, the brother of prominent tycoon Kith Meng and owner of the Rock Entertainment Center, which was raided last month by police in the largest drugs bust in the country in recent years.
Police found some 50 kilograms of drugs at the venue and detained 29 suspected dealers during the nighttime raid on February 23.
Neth Savoeun, National Police chief, said Thieng was detained for questioning on Monday following an order by Prime Minister Hun Sen to bring the “masterminds” of the illicit venture to justice.
Speaking on Monday, Hun Sen said: “I hope that the Ministry of Interior and the courts will take serious actions on the issue and ensure no such thing happens again.”
Thieng is the elder brother of Meng, chairman of the Royal Group of Companies and a close associate of Hun Sen.
San Chey, executive director of the Cambodian Social Accountability Alliance, said if a “collective effort” was made and the political will was there the perpetrators could be brought to justice.
Under Cambodia’s drugs control law, the owner of an establishment that permits illegal drug-taking can face up to five years in prison.
According to official figures, Cambodian authorities recorded some 8,000 drug cases last year, detaining more than 16,000 people and seizing more than 530 kilograms of illegal drugs.
