Three purpose-fitted motorbikes used to carry processed wood and 12 illegal timber pieces of koki and sokrom luxury wood were seized by the Royal Gendarmerie in O’Yadav district, in Ratanakkiri province, and police in Mondulkiri’s Keo Seima district, for further legal action, said the provincial Forestry Administration.
O’Yadav district military police commander Sok Min, told The Post on Monday that on April 5, he led forces patrolling the forest to prevent and investigate natural resource crimes.
There were three wood-carrying motorbikes parked in the forest about 1km from Tien Village, Yatung Commune, in O’Yadav District, he said.
“Near the motorbikes, the authorities found a total of eight pieces of luxury wood, including six pieces of koki timber and two pieces of sokrom.
“The motorbikes and the seized timber have been handed over to officials at the O’Yadav Forestry Administration to measure and take further legal action,” he said.
Ratanakkiri provincial Forestry Administration chief Keb Kot told The Post that as of Monday evening, he had not yet received a report on the handover or evidence of a crime from the authorities or officials from the O’Yadav Forestry Administration.
“Even the timber measurement report . . . I haven’t received it yet,” he said.
Separately, in Mondulkiri provincial commander of the Royal Gendarmerie Pai Iin told The Post that on Sunday morning that his forces patrolled several corridors near the Cambodia-Vietnam border to ensure security, safety and to check for natural resources crimes.
The police found four pieces of sokrom luxury wood hidden in the forest about a 0.5km from the Cambodia-Vietnam border.
“The wood pieces were taken by the police for temporary storage at the Keo Seima Royal Gendarmerie military barracks.
“It will be handed over to the Forestry Administration to be measured and for follow-up legal procedures,” he said.
