Officials from the Department of Animal Health and Production stopped four trucks packed with 192 oxen and buffalo and fined the owners for exceeding the permitted limit. The animals did not have any health problems.

General Department of Animal Health and Production director Tan Phannara told The Post on Sunday that his forces worked on the bust in collaboration with the Kampong Chhnang Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ Department of Animal Health and Production.

He said three of the trucks were going from Thailand to Vietnam while another from Battambang to Takeo provinces.

“After the inspection and documents check, authorities found some abnormalities including health certificates from the original source and deliveries above the permissible limit,” he said.

One truck is meant to carry 10 animals but instead, it carried 38. Another truck had asked permission to deliver 20 animals but instead was trying to deliver 54. The other two trucks were meant for 30 animals but instead had 48 in one and 52 in another.

Not following the requested load is illegal, Phannara said. The owner of the business must pay a fine of 10 million riel ($2,450) to 15 million riel per truck, he said.

“It is lucky that the authorities carried out blood tests on the animals and did not find any diseases that could have spread to other cattle in our village,” he said.

Phannara said the vehicles and cattle were retained by the Department of Animal Health and Production in Kampong Chhnang.

The Post could not contact the business owner for comment on Sunday. Authorities claimed the vehicles belong to the Angkor Sok Sen Chey Company whose owner is Chim Sok.

Department of Animal Health and Production deputy director Hun Sarath told The Post on Sunday that a representative from Angkor Sok Sen Chey admitted wrongdoing and promised to pay the fine and ensure such matters did not recur.