Authorities in Stung Treng province confiscated more than 100 pieces of illegal luxury-grade wood stockpiled on the bank of the Mekong River Saturday, officials said Sunday.
According to provincial military police chief Ieng Vandy, 105 pieces of thnong wood—each about 2 meters long and 20 cm in diameter—were discovered on the riverbank in Siem Bok district near the border of Kratie province to the south.
“The wood belonged to some businesspeople in Kratie province. They have been buying the wood in Stung Treng province and transporting it to sell…in Tbong Khmum province,” he said, adding that he did not know the names of the alleged timber smugglers.
Chhoeun Tola, chief of the Forestry Administration’s Stung Treng cantonment, said his officials cooperated with local military police to seize the wood.
“We are investigating to find the wood dealers who are responsible, and they will be required to pay a fine,” he said. “If they refuse to pay, we will compile a report and send this case to court.”
