Phnom Penh: On June 9, 2026, Cambodian authorities are strengthening collaboration with the private sector to prevent and curb the diversion of chemical compounds to produce illegal drugs. This is a measure to protect the integrity of the supply chain, public safety and national security.
The effort was highlighted at a workshop on strengthening the effectiveness of cooperation in the management and control of chemical compounds to prevent diversion into illicit drug production, organized by the National Narcotics Control Authority in collaboration with ministries, relevant institutions and the private sector.
Invited as the representative, Minister Hem Vandy, Deputy Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Working Group on the Control of Narcotics and Compound Chemicals, Mr. Ke Ky, Secretary of State, Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, highlighted the importance of effective control of compound chemicals for legal use in industry.
He said, “Chemical compounds are not drugs in the form of finished products, but they can be converted into reagents and ingredients to produce drugs. If we do not use or manage them properly, chemical compounds can become a driver for illegal production.”
The Secretary of State asked factories and enterprises to keep proper records related to the use, storage and distribution of chemical compounds, as well as strengthen reporting mechanisms and ensure that factories and enterprises have qualified personnel responsible for the management of these substances.
General Meas Virith, secretary-general of the National Narcotics Control Authority, said that “criminal networks are still trying to use legal chemicals for illegal purposes.”
The general said, “Criminal groups continue to try to find every means to divert chemical compounds from legal use to produce illegal drugs, which requires close attention and strict enforcement of the law.”
