Officials recently seized timber which had been illegally felled in a protected nature conservation area. Environment ministry
Around 4,000 logs of a valuable species of hardwood, classified as a Type 1 luxury timber, were seized by a joint force in Mondulkiri province over four days at the end of April. The logs were illegally felled and removed from a protected natural area.
Khvay Atitya, spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, stated that between April 27 and 30, officials from the Mondulkiri Provincial Department of Environment and officials from the Srepok–Nam Lyr Wildlife Sanctuary conducted operations to prevent the unauthorised transport and harvesting of natural resources. The operation was carried out in cooperation with the Pechreada District authorities, the Forest Administration and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) of Division 1 Command Headquarters.
The joint force stopped timber being transported from the wildlife sanctuary at five different locations.
“Among the confiscated items were a wood-processing tractor, three bulldozers, and approximately 4,000 logs of pepper posts. During the operation, authorities also discovered tens of thousands more recently cut and transported logs taken from the forest in the protected area, located on land where pepper is cultivated,” Atitya explained, on May 5.
Among the logs, some were found to belong to a pepper plantation owner named Soeun Noeun in Busra village and commune, in Pechreada District. The crackdown sparked significant public criticism, especially on social media.
Nevertheless, Atitya clarified that the seized logs are first grade protected species, known for its high value, and confirmed it had been illegally cut and transported out from within the Srepok–Nam Lyr Wildlife Sanctuary.
Approximately 4,000 dressed pieces of timber were recovered in a four-day operation across five locations in Mondulkiri province. Environment ministry
“The joint force cracked down on crimes involving the transport, collection and stockpiling of natural resources and their by-products without legal authorisation, which violates Article 850 of the Environmental and Natural Resource Code. Violators can face prison terms of 1 to 5 years and fines ranging from 100 million to 500 million riel ($2,500 to $12,500),” added Atitya.
The environment ministry and provincial authorities have launched a thorough investigation into this natural resource crime and rejected claims made by some media outlets that cited Soeun Noeun. The ministry said these reports do not reflect the truth and have caused public confusion regarding the role and efforts of the joint task force in Mondulkiri, which has acted responsibly to enforce the law.
Additionally, the provincial command announced that it will pursue legal procedures against any individuals who deliberately spread false information, which misleads the public about the lawful enforcement actions taken by the authorities.
The ministry also issued a warning, urging people to stop collecting and selling timber for making Chhlong M’rech logs without a valid legal permit. The joint force is continuing to investigate further natural resource crimes in other protected areas.
On May 2, the Pechreada district administration denied allegations that local officials accepted money from forest crime groups operating in the Atroang area, in Puchrey Chonphang village, Puchrey commune. This denial follows recent logging activity by timber traders in the Phnom Prech Wildlife Sanctuary.
The district administration stated that local joint forces have frequently intervened to halt illegal logging in Phnom Prech. Specifically, on March 31, district authorities, along with park rangers, launched an operation to crack down on illegal logging in the Konglong foothill area of the sanctuary.
During that operation, authorities encountered four suspects actively felling first grade timber known as Sralao. The suspects were processed according to legal procedures.
