Authorities in Ratanakkiri’s Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary seized a stockpile of first- and second-grade luxury timber on Saturday, while a truck hauling wood was intercepted by authorities in Kratie province in the early hours of yesterday morning. No arrests have been made in either case, authorities said yesterday.

According to Ratanakkiri Provincial Military Police Chief Kim Raksmey, 111 pieces of first-grade sokram and 90 pieces of second-grade chhlik timber were seized by Military Police and environmental officials at a stockpile in Seda commune, in Lumphat district.

Phon Khemaring, provincial Environment Department director, said authorities are investigating the identity of the owner. “We have not measured the timber yet because we have just hauled them out of the forest, and our team is continuing to work on this attentively,” he confirmed.

Separately, Kratie province’s Military Police Commander San Bunthan said that at nearly 2am yesterday, his forces and the Snuol district Forestry Administration stopped a truck loaded with second-grade chhlik timber. The truck was stopped in Snuol district’s Ksem commune. However, as in most reported cases of timber vehicle busts, the driver managed to escape.

“Now both truck and timber were sent to the Snuol Forestry Administration [office] for further procedures,” he said, noting the exact quantity of timber had yet to be determined.