More than 78 tonnes of used tyres, which entered the Kingdom through the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, have been returned to their point of origin.

The worn out tyres were reportedly sent to Cambodia for disposal, in violation of international customs laws.

The General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia (GDCE) announced today, March 7 that following their inspection of the shipment, they ordered the owner of the four containers – containing 78,640 kilogrammes of old tyres – to ship them out of Cambodia. 

The department did not reveal the origin of the consignment. 

According to the GDCE, the cargo was imported in September 2024 and immediately flagged by officials, in accordance with the international Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movements and the disposal of hazardous wastes, signed in 1989.​

The containers left the Kingdom on February 26. 

“The GDCE pays close attention to security and safety regarding import, export and transit goods. In 2024, the department halted the illegal import of several prohibited items, including 37 cases of spoiled meat and animal products totalling 94 tonnes (94,018 kilogrammes) and narcotics weighing a total of 66.3 kilogrammes,” said the department.

Additionally, 107 consignments of illegal and substandard goods, weighing a total of approximately 507 tonnes, were destroyed by the department on February 28.