A minivan loaded with luxury timber was intercepted in Ratanakkiri’s Kon Mom district on Monday, officials said yesterday.

Nouv Dara, head of the province’s anti-economic crime bureau, said the van was stopped on National Road 78 in Ta Ong commune at about 11pm.

"Our authorities confiscated 94 pieces of thnong luxury wood," he said, adding that the driver escaped.

The seized timber has been handed to the provincial Forestry Administration for investigation, and authorities will continue to look for the driver.

Adhoc provincial coordinator Chhay Thy said that since the government’s crackdown on logging, "we have seen a decrease in smuggling and deforestation".

To eradicate the problem, Thy suggested the government create a reward system to encourage locals to report forestry crimes to authorities.