Police Burn 3-Year Haul of Drug Precursor

The burning of the so-called "ecstasy oil'.

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer Original report from Phnom Penh 20 June 2008

Cambodian and Australian police on Friday finished destroying 30 tons of sassafras tree oil, a component used in the production of methamphetamines.

The oil was confiscated in Kampong, Battambang and Pursat provinces over three years of counter-drug operations. The three-day burn, in Pursat, was undertaken with the support of Australian police.

"The ceremony today is to show international cooperation to combat drugs and is also a message to drug traffickers to stop producing sassafras oil, because the Cambodian law never forgets them," Lour Ramin, secretary-general of the National Authority for Combating Drugs, said Friday. "Second, it's a message to Cambodian people to stop producing sassafras oil, because it's an abuse of the drug law."