National Road 5 was blocked outside the Poipet International Border Checkpoint customs office for almost an hour yesterday morning by about 20 truckers demanding the return of an impounded truck.

The owner of the truck, Men Phearum, said yesterday that his vehicle was seized on Monday while hauling tractor parts from the checkpoint to a destination in Banteay Meanchey province after customs determined import duty had not been paid on the parts.

“I don’t know whether tax was paid on the goods or not, but I was hired to move them from one place to another. I didn’t move them from Thailand, and normally if the goods have already gone through the border, it means customs have already performed their checks,” Phearum said yesterday.

Banteay Meanchey provincial Adhoc coordinator said an ASEAN free trade agreement meant many goods travelling between Thailand and Cambodia should now be tax exempt and called for more clarity on border tariffs.

Banteay Meanchey province customs director Chher Socheat could not be reached for comment.