Cambodian authorities say they have discovered about 220 tonnes of frozen meat imported from Thailand during inspections of storage facilities in Phnom Penh, as the government intensifies efforts to curb the smuggling of Thai goods.
The frozen meat was found during raids on warehouses in Russey Keo and Prek Pnov districts on 10 June, according to Mr Kim Meas Sokseyha, director-general of the Consumer Protection, Competition and Fraud Repression Directorate-General (CCF).
Officials said an initial inspection of a warehouse in Prek Pnov district uncovered 215 packages of frozen products bearing Thai-language labels, weighing around 430 kilograms. A second warehouse in Russey Keo district was found to contain 25 types of frozen products labelled in Thai, totalling more than 218 tonnes.
Kim Meas Sokseyha said the products had been temporarily confiscated under orders from prosecutors while authorities continue their investigation. He added that officials were also examining products carrying Khmer-language labels to determine whether any had been falsely labelled.
A separate inspection of a frozen meat warehouse in the Sen Sok district did not uncover products imported from Thailand. Authorities said the facility contained meat imported from other countries, including India, China, and Australia.
The inspections are continuing at other cold-storage facilities across Phnom Penh as officials seek to determine the scale of imports entering the country.
The operation came a day after Senate President Hun Sen warned that officials or influential figures found to be involved in smuggling goods from Thailand could face dismissal and asset confiscation.
According to his spokesman, Chea Thyrith, Hun Sen reiterated on 11 June that authorities should take action against those importing frozen meat from Thailand and investigate any officials suspected of facilitating the trade.
The government has stepped up scrutiny of Thai imports amid heightened political attention on cross-border trade, although authorities have not yet said whether criminal charges will be brought in connection with the frozen meat discovered during the raids.
