Rattanakiri Province:
At 3:35 pm on 4 November 2017, after the cool abd rainy weather has started, many illegal logging was spotted being openly transported through Oyadav International Border to Vietnam.
No police or local authorities bothered to check and stop.

UPDATE
Meanwhile, 4 years have gone by since the above news item, and local villagers in Ratanakiri are still complaining about the incessant flow of vehicles heading to the Vietnam border loaded up with illegal timber.


Cambodia News, (Ratanakkiri Province): Local people say that bands of overloaded motorcycles continue to transport timber from areas in the territory of Vern Sai and O'Chum districts to store in Banlung, the capital city of Ratanakkiri province, where it is later transported to Vietnam by truck. Despite the official precautions in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and the closed border with Vietnam, the competent authorities at all levels have put no repressive measures in place to stop this illegal traffic.

Sources revealed that every night, they see at least 40 or 50 motorbikes rushing to transport timber, disturbing the sleep of the residents as they pass through the town of O'Chum, from late at night until dawn.

According to the source, most of the timber transported by the traders was the number one type of wood, which was cut into large-diameter panels and transported to Banlung and embedded in a Samsung truck, made from the roof and bottom of the truck, which pretends to be carrying sacks of coal to Vietnam via O'Yadao.
Another source revealed that everyone sees that there is a white Samsung truck, with license plate Phnom Penh 2A-7824, which regularly transports illegal timber from Vern Sai district to Banlung city every day.


The source revealed that the illegal timber traffic between O'Chum and Banlung has been going on for many years. A mastermind was detained at one stage, and then released, allowing the motorbikes to continue to transport the timber smoothly every night.
In the group of motorbikes transporting wood, there are also many other groups of traders who work together with the mastermind mentioned above.

21 January, 2022: And so it goes on with no apparent changes since the above article. Even the vehicle remains the same as reported six months ago. (A Samsung van).

Cambodia News, (Ratanakkiri Province): Sources in Ratanakkiri province say that more than 60 motorbikes transport luxury wood to Banlung every night, where the wood is sold to Makara, who drives a Samsung car across the International O'Yadao border crossing to Vietnam, where it is illegally sold to Vietnamese traders.
According to residents of O'Chum district, it is alleged that Makara is collecting this luxury wood from Tong Han and his son-in-law Leang, who collect timber from Vern Sai and Kar Lai commune, O'Chum district, using at least 60 motorbikes driving into Banlung city every night.



When he received a phone call from Kohsantepheap journalists asking about the luxury wood business and the above allegations, Mr. Nhem Sam Oeun, Governor of Ratanakkiri Province, said that all of the above is illegal in the territory, [BUT] sorry he can't stop to talk, he's a little busy right now, in a meeting, what about talking another time.
- KSP

Can't stop to talk, lol. Need to discuss my cut, more likely.

A reporter should go camping up in the woods of Mondulkiri/Rattanakiri, I'm sure they'd breakdown in tears

And so it goes on... locals complain, reporters report, and nothing changes. Unfortunately, the people ultimately responsible for this illegal traffic are extremely high-ranking, so this situation is likely to continue in Ratanakkiri and the provinces bordering Vietnam until the forests have been completely stripped of valuable hardwood.

Cambodia News (Phnom Penh): On 17 September 2022, it was reported that the 7 Makara Phary Company, which operates rubber plantations and land belonging to *HE Senior Minister Kun Kim, in Taing Chik village, Andong Meas district, Ratanakkiri province, has been clearing hectares of land with equipment to knock down trees, which are then cut and collected for sale. According to the local people, the timber is being transported off the place as sawn wood planks.

Sources said that the relevant authorities do not dare to prevent or suppress deforestation activities by company for fear of the powerful people who own the land.
However, regarding the land grabbing and pillage of natural resource in the area surrounding Tang Chik village, Nhang commune, Andong Meas district, Rattanakiri province, the local people are requesting Mr. Nhem Sam Oeun, Governor of Rattanakiri Provincial Board of Governors to lead an inspection into the above-mentioned people.


*HE is also a general, and is one of the few high-ranking Cambodians who is the named subject of US sanctions, mostly due to his allegedly illegal financial operations in favor of Chinese companies in Koh Kong province.

https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national- ... nd-kun-kim

The 7 Makara Phary Company, mentioned above, also gets a mention on the 'Sanctions Watch' website : https://sanctionswatch.cifar.eu/kun-kim

^^ The above guy seems to be quite notorious. Definitely gets around.
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