Seven people were sent to Kratie Provincial Court on Friday after they were arrested in the early hours of Thursday morning ferrying a load of luxury timber across the Mekong River into Kampong Cham province, officials said.
Men Thoeun, chief of police in Kratie’s Prek Prasap district, said his forces were ordered by the deputy provincial prosecutor to be stationed at the Kompong Kor ferry port to intercept the truck around 2 a.m.
“Seven people were arrested and immediately sent to the provincial court,” Mr. Thoeun said.
Prek Prasap district governor Iem Ean Narom said that the seven arrested included the truck driver and six workers.
Officials declined to give details about what was being carried on the truck or where it was coming from.
Kratie provincial police chief Lun Sophath said the suspects were arrested because they were “involved in forestry offenses,” referring further questions to deputy prosecutor Thuch Panhchak Santepheap, who led the early morning operation.
Contacted Friday, Mr. Panhchak Santepheap said that he was busy at the court and unable to comment on the arrests.
