Three men were arrested in Ratanakkiri province on Saturday night after they were caught transporting about 1 cubic meter of rosewood in two cars, an official said Monday.
Vong Serey, head of the Forestry Administration’s Ratanakkiri cantonment, said a team of administration officials and provincial police apprehended Chum Keo, 35; Sath Sery, 28; and El Pov, 44, after inspecting their vehicles at a checkpoint in Kon Mom district’s Ta Ong commune.
“We confiscated 203 pieces of rosewood from two cars and three men were arrested,” Mr. Serey said, adding that the three were likely attempting to smuggle the luxury-grade timber across the border to sell in Vietnam.
He said the men were sent to the Ratanakkiri Provincial Court on Sunday and charged under the forestry law with exporting forest products without a license.
The crime carries a maximum prison sentence of five years.
