Kampong Cham police officials arrested 10 suspects on Sunday for illegally fishing the Mekong River in Koh Sotin district.

“Seven are Vietnamese and other three are Muslim Cambodians. They used illegal equipment to fish in the Mekong River, such as four motor boats, trawls and two homemade guns for shooting fish,” Hong Nak, anti-economic crime chief, said.

“We initially charged them with illegal fishing and will send them to the court for more investigation.”

Nak added that the arrest is part of the government’s attempt to crack down on the massive illegal fishing market.

“Two days ago, we also arrested five other Vietnamese for illegal fishing and two motor boats,” he said, adding that he did not have exact numbers for the illegal fisherman arrested so far this year.

“We always educate to everyone in their community and also through the local radio program about illegal fishing, but some people still do it,” he said.