News:1996-04-29/Report/aptv-documents-open-marijuana-cultivation-on-new-island-near-phnom-penh-thai-investment-blamed

Cambodia·Phnom Penh··New Island

APTV documents open marijuana cultivation on New Island near Phnom Penh; Thai investment blamed

Associated Press Television documented cannabis cultivation on "New Island" just outside Phnom Penh on the Mekong River. Cannabis plants were grown hidden among banana plants with irrigation pipes, while further from the riverbank, whole fields were cultivated openly. Farmer Chhe Sambatt, who had been growing for three years, earned up to $2/kg with "little trouble from the authorities" — "A few years ago no one ever came. It's only this year that they started, so usually I have nothing to fear." Anti-drug officer Heng Po blamed Thai businessmen for Cambodia's cannabis expansion: "They grow it because Thai businessmen came here and gave them money to do it. Especially in Khandar [Kandal], Koh Kong and Khampot [Kampot] provinces. They give them money and irrigation machines." The report noted marijuana "has been grown in Cambodia for many years, for cooking" but had recently become widespread, especially in Thai border areas. Cannabis was still sold openly in Phnom Penh markets. Police had seized "hundreds of kilogrammes" and arrested nearly 100 people since November 1994.

Source: https://newsroom.ap.org/editorial-photos-videos/detail?itemid=742e44ed4fbfa682657eddc34399df27