Stung Treng Provincial Military Police stopped six vans transporting timber illegally on Friday night, but were unable to catch any of the drivers, according to police.
Uy Kvai, deputy director of the crime office at the Stung Treng Provincial Military Police base, said the vans were carrying second-grade timber, commonly used for building houses, through Stung Treng district’s Samaki commune.
“The timber haulers seemed to have known beforehand, and they just parked the vans 20 to 30 metres from the checkpoint and got out and escaped,” he said.
Kvai said police have not been able to find any of the drivers or the owner of the timber. He added that the timber has not been measured yet, but was estimated to be about 10 cubic metres.
The timber and the vans have been handed to the provincial Forestry Administration for further investigation, he said.
Orn Chansocheat, a Stung Treng provincial Forestry Administration officer, said experts are still measuring the timber and are also preparing a report.
