Koh Kong provincial authorities released a timber truck on Monday after it caused heavy congestion in Khemarak Phoumin town.

Officials claimed its load and documents were all legal, even as local media reported that a smaller truck relieved it of a portion of the wood before the inspection.

The rig, which allegedly belongs to MDS Try Pheap Co, got stuck while turning around on Sunday and caused a major traffic jam.

Min Reaksmey, the deputy provincial police chief said: “We invited the truck owner for inspection . . . he has the relevant document to transport the timber (16 cubic metres) from Veal Veng district in [Pursat province] to Koh Kong”.

Meas Born, Pramuoy Forestry Administration chief, said on June 30, the Veal Veng Forestry Administration led officials to inspect the campus of MDS located in Pursat province’s Anlong Reap village.

Born claims they witnessed the loading of second- and third-grade timber into a truck in order for it to be moved to Koh Kong’s Steung Veng commune. According to web pages of local news outlets, the large truck allegedly belongs to a general working in Unit 70.

A 2007 report by environmental organisation Global Witness accused the unit of running a logging and contraband trafficking operation worth more than $2 million a year.