A joint force from the Department of Prevention and Suppression of Offences of Cambodia’s General Department of Customs and Excise, led by Deputy Director ព្រាប គារ៉ាត, who is responsible for staff coordination and the special intervention team, inspected two boats carrying imports from Viet Nam near the Bak Dai bilateral border crossing in Takeo province. Officers found a substantial quantity of goods for which proper customs declarations had not yet been completed.
The operation was conducted with officers from the Bak Dai Customs and Excise Office, the National Gendarmerie and the Takeo Provincial Gendarmerie. It was coordinated by ឯក ឆេងហួត, prosecutor attached to the Takeo Provincial Court of First Instance, and directly led by deputy prosecutor លីម ហ៊ន.
Officers went to a location identified through confidential sources, approximately 7 to 8 kilometres from the Bak Dai bilateral crossing, to inspect the goods and verify their compliance.
The operation followed instructions from គុណ ញឹម, Minister Delegate attached to the Prime Minister and Director-General of the General Department of Customs and Excise, and the department’s prevention and suppression leadership, to make measures against smuggling and duty evasion more effective.
After inspecting both boats, officers found that a large proportion of the assorted goods had not yet been properly declared or processed for import at the Bak Dai Customs and Excise Office in accordance with procedures.
The two cargo boats and the related goods have now been entrusted to their owners for temporary safekeeping at a location in Angkor Borei district, Takeo province, pending a decision through the prescribed procedures by the leadership of the General Department of Customs and Excise.
The operation reflects the General Department of Customs and Excise’s continuing efforts to strengthen law enforcement, prevent smuggling and duty evasion, and ensure that goods are imported in accordance with the laws in force.
By Pai Sokhim
