PHNOM PENH: The Department of Anti-Drug Crimes defended its officers against what it says are lies being spread on social media. On August 2, Facebook media outlet TNM made a post accusing officers of soliciting money from the families of young men they had arrested in exchange for their release.

In a since deleted video, TNM showed two officers arresting two young men accused of being involved in drugs. The recording was said to show a drug officer demanding money from one of the arrested man’s family in exchange for his release.

The Anti-Drug Department released a statement today condemning the video as fake news, saying the footage was three years old and the voice was fake. The department did confirm that its officers arrested two young men on July 30 who were suspected of drug offences near Russey Keo School.

The department said that after questioning, it was found that the two young men had used drugs and e-cigarettes, which are illegal in Cambodia. They said that authorities then educated the young men on the dangers of drug use and e-cigarettes and asked their parents to ensure that they were educated and rehabilitated. They said there was no occurrence of extortion.

The Department of Anti-Drug Crimes stated, "The images and audio recordings included in this video from three years ago are not related to the department's operations. The post was done with malicious intent by the Facebook account owner of TMN in order to deceive the public, defame the authorities and protect the perpetrators.

The Anti-Drug Department confirmed that it is waiting to meet with the account holder and thanked the public for getting involved in the prevention and suppression of drug offenses in line with the "3 Don’t, 1 Reports” campaign which encourages the public to report instances of drug abuse and trafficking.