Forestry Administration officials in Ratanakkiri province’s Veun Sai district have confiscated nearly 150 cubic meters of illegally logged wood they found stockpiled on a rubber plantation this week, an official said.
The luxury-grade timber was found on Sunday and Monday in Phnom Kuk commune on a plantation belonging to the Hoang Anh Mang Yang K company, according to Vorng Sokserey, head of the Forestry Administration’s Ratanakkiri cantonment.
“We confiscated 148 cubic meters of wood that was hidden on the rubber plantation. The company, which has a 6,000-hectare concession from the government, said it did not know anything about the wood,” he said.
Mr. Sokserey added that the timber was likely destined for Vietnam.
“[Wood smugglers] usually try to take the wood to Vietnam, some carry it in small trucks and others on motorbikes,” he said, adding that his officials were searching for the owners of the wood. Hoang Anh Mang Yang K could not be reached.
