Stung Treng military police handed over seven right-hand-drive cars to officials from the provincial Department of Customs and Excise on Saturday after they were found to be illegally imported with fake plate numbers.

Right-hand-drive cars were banned from entering the Kingdom in 2015. However, they are used in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and India among others due to the traffic system in those countries. And many modern right-hand-drive cars are found in Cambodia, according to police.

The major red flag, according to the police, are the plates, which cannot be traced. Ministry of Land Transport director-general Chhoun Von said cars that use police or Royal Cambodia Armed Forces (RCAF) plate numbers, like the seven, are not required to register at the ministry.

“For illegally imported cars without tax, we do not register them. If there is no registration, there is no plate number,” said Voun.

Stung Treng military police also seized 12 illegally imported cars with fake plate numbers in May and handed them over to the department as well.

Affiliated Network for Social Accountability (Ansa) executive director San Chey said cars using RCAF and State plates represent a loss of Customs duties and taxes to the State coffers.

He said some cars with RCAF plates are used for illegal business, such as transporting forest products and other illegal goods.

“We think fake plate numbers are produced by criminals. Plate numbers from the Ministry of Interior have a proper identity,” he said.

Watch video: