A soldier and a villager were arrested on Monday in Koh Kong province after police found three caches of illegal rosewood totalling nearly two tonnes, said Lay Menglaing, director of the provincial minor crime office.

Police raided the house of soldier Hor Deth, 36, in Smach Meanchey commune on Monday, finding 100 kilograms of rosewood, Menglaing said. After questioning Deth, police also arrested and questioned Chea Tith, 38.

That day, police also found two other rosewood stashes in Mondul Seima district that could not be linked to the two. “Some of the timber was abandoned . . . We could not find the owners,” Menglaing said.

“The prosecutor questioned both of them, and they are likely to be freed on Tuesday evening.” Provincial prosecutor Srey Makny declined to comment. A Licadho coordinator said hundreds of pieces of rosewood had been logged there.