A Pailin province family is seeking the return of property, including a chicken, which they claim was impounded last week by police in a drug raid that uncovered no evidence.

Mork Chean, a 53-year-old farmer, said police raided his home in Pailin commune on Friday, clearing it of all of his family’s belongings.

Authorities claimed “the house was being used to distribute drugs, and that drugs were hidden there”, he said. But “they told me the police did not find any drugs or suspicious stuff related to drug use.

Then police gathered everything, even the hen.”

Chean’s wife, Sor Kunthea, added that despite the lack of evidence, “the authorities have not returned our stuff”.

Leng Chhin, Pailin town deputy police chief, said officers had been ordered to conduct the raid by the provincial court’s deputy prosecutor after information was received of drug deals at the property.

“During the inspection, our authorities did not spot any evidence – drugs, or drug paraphernalia,” he said, denying that police had taken a chicken.

But he said they had confiscated a number of eggs, which officers had already eaten.

He added that the family’s remaining property would be kept by police while investigations into the case continued.

“The return of those belongings to the owners will depend on the court’s decision.”

Deputy prosecutor Thol Kemhoeng said he ordered the raid after reports that six suspects had been spotted “consuming drugs” in front of the house.

Chean will be called in for questioning later this week.