Thirty cases of Chang Beer found to be loaded with bottles full of acid were among the items seized during a crackdown on counterfeit and contraband goods in Banteay Meanchey this week, according to provincial checkpoint director Sean Sinat.

“The acid was imported from Thailand illegally through the Poipet border checkpoint,” Sinat said. “In the past, some Cambodian vendors confused the acid for vinegar and used it as a cooking ingredient, which causes health problems for consumers.”

Also netted in the ongoing crackdown, which began on Monday, were 20 kilograms of unlabelled instant noodles, a total of 27 expired bottles of chilli and soy sauce, and 45 tins of deceptively labelled canned fish.

Sinat said officials from his office as well as the provincial economic crime police will continue to search Banteay Meanchey markets for illicit wares.