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Officials leaked the story of Svay Rieng Customs and Excise Branch Chief giving the green light to corrupt customs officers at the border
Pen Srey Neat
February 23, 2022


Cambodia News, (Svay Rieng): Certain customs officials have revealed that Mr. Heng Sambo, head of the Svay Rieng Provincial Customs and Excise Branch, permits customs officers at the border checkpoint to commit corruption by allowing the clandestine importation of insufficiently taxed or completely tax-free goods, as well as permitting other illegal items through the border from Vietnam.

According to officials at the Bos Mon border checkpoint in Romduol district, Mr. Khuth Salin, director of the Bos Mon border customs office, allows traders to import tax evaded, underpaid, and illegal goods, using Heng Sambo's name to cover up his scandal. The whistle-blowers say that Khuth Salin would not have dared to do this without getting the green light from the chief Heng Sambo.

Officials at the Prey Vally International Gate in Kampong Ror district also allege that Mr. Chan Dara, director of the Prey Vally International Border Customs Office, allows traders to evade import tax and to import goods illegally.

Mr. Chheng Savin, Director of the Customs Office at the Dong Border Area, Romeas Hek District, Svay Rieng Province, is also accused of pocketing customs taxes and turning a blind eye to illegal imports.

Regarding the above information, Mr. Heng Sambo, Head of Svay Rieng Customs and Excise Office, could not be reached for comment.

Copyright by: CEN

Eight Buses from Vietnam Found Trafficking Illegal Goods

Cambodia News (Phnom Penh): According to CCF, on March 1, 2022, on National Road 1, Sas Sangkat Prek Eng, Khan Chbar Ampov, eight overloaded buses carrying imported goods from Vietnam were stopped and searched by the authorities.

They found many examples of unauthorized goods being imported into Cambodia on all the buses that were inspected. However, the authorities haven't yet provided a full detailed list of the unauthorized items.

Further allegations of corruption by border officials have been made concerning Mr Sao Vanna, Chief of Police, and Mr. Chheng Savin, Chief of Customs Office, Border Gate, Doung Area in Svay Rieng province.

Cambodia News, (Svay Rieng Province): Sources close to Mr. Sao Vanna said that the officer is not afraid to use his role and power to allow traders to bring tax evaded and insufficiently taxed goods from Vietnam into Cambodia at will, in return for substantial bribes.

The same source continued that Mr. Sao Vanna has been able to commit such corruption for many years, with the good cooperation of Mr. Chheng Savin, the director of the Customs Office at the border checkpoint in the area of Doung area, to open the door so that it can run smoothly. For this reason, traders, both large and small, have rushed to import and export tax evaded goods and non-taxed goods at the border with Vietnam, all through the channel organized by Mr. Sao Vanna and Mr. Chheng Savin together to collect money.
Sources from the relevant officials at the border checkpoint in Doung area, Romeas Hek district, Svay Rieng province, said that Mr Sao Vanna puts wads of money in his pocket every day, and does not share it with other party members.


Also, the traders who import goods from Vietnam through this channel complain that their business is less profitable than before, because the many authorities at the border and on the street are extorting too much money. Merchants and traders said that all their payments did not receive the correct payment receipts or invoices, and that no one could escape the eagle eyes of Mr. Sao Vanna, the police chief at the Doung Border Gate.
In particular, the big traders who import goods from Vietnam through Romeas Hek district, Svay Rieng province, are the main source of income of Mr. Sao Vanna, who is very famous for corruption, which causes a huge monthly loss of revenue to the state which is in the millions. Therefore, they urge the relevant officials or institutions to send an inspection team to investigate the irregularities of both Mr. Sao Vanna, Chief of the Border Area Police Station, and Mr. Chheng Savin, Chief of the Customs Office of the Border Area.

The corruption at the Doung area border gate in Svay Rieng is so rampant, that officials and traders are calling upon the competent authorities to take action immediately.

I'm sure that doesn't surprise anyone who's ever been there.

Pre-covid it was 350 $ per cubic meter smuggled from VN to KH, HMC->PP loaded and unloaded.
I wonder how much it was while it, and nowadays ?

Sources from the relevant officials at the border checkpoint in Doung area, Romeas Hek district, Svay Rieng province, said that Mr Sao Vanna puts wads of money in his pocket every day, and does not share it with other party members.

Party members?

John Bingham wrote:

Sources from the relevant officials at the border checkpoint in Doung area, Romeas Hek district, Svay Rieng province, said that Mr Sao Vanna puts wads of money in his pocket every day, and does not share it with other party members.

Party members?

Slip up the by the journalist.

newkidontheblock wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 10:37 pm

John Bingham wrote:

Sources from the relevant officials at the border checkpoint in Doung area, Romeas Hek district, Svay Rieng province, said that Mr Sao Vanna puts wads of money in his pocket every day, and does not share it with other party members.

Party members?

Slip up the by the journalist.

I don't think experienced journalists in Cambodia make that kind of mistakes. Maybe something went wrong in the translation. Would be interesting to see the original Khmer words used.

Traders with Vietnam Complain of Excessive Corruption in Prey Veng

Cambodia News, Phnom Penh: Regular traders crossing the border from Vietnam to Cambodia and from Cambodia to Vietnam are complaining that Mr. Khieu Saroeun, Head of Area 2, requires them to pay a monthly fee at his home, located in Peany Village, Lvea Commune, Preah Sdach District, Prey Veng Province. The traders allege that they are being excessively squeezed by demands for money by officials when they import and export goods at this border gate, complaining that they can no longer make a profit.

According to the same source, Mr. Khieu Saroeun, the head of Area 2, has allegedly set the amount of money to be paid by the group of traders at 200,000 riel per small vehicle, a medium vehicle from 300,000 riel to 500,000 riel, and a large vehicle from 500,000 riel to 800,000 riel. And for the large container trucks carrying heavy goods such as machinery from Vietnam to Cambodia, crossing National Road No. 1, Mr. Khieu Saroeun is demanding even more.
In fact, traders transporting goods from Vietnam to Cambodia through the Chakrei international border crossing claim that the payment for a 5-ton truck is set by Mr. Khieu Saroeun at 200,000 Riels per foot, and this payment is not returned with an official piece of paper or a tax receipt.


Mr Khieu Saroeun, head of the two regional offices in Prey Veng for the prevention and suppression of smuggling, has strongly denied these allegations. He claimed that "no money is taken from the traders on his behalf".

VIDEO: Romeas Hek border crossing, Svay Rieng

Cambodia News, (Svay Rieng Province): March 19, 2023: According to the residents of Koki village, Tros commune, Romeas Hek district, on the border with Vietnam, the cross-border traffic of Cambodian wood into Vietnam has intensified recently. They said that every morning there is a long procession of empty vehicles driving through the Romeas Hek border gate into Cambodia, and every evening, at around 4pm, the trucks and tractor-trailors come back fully laden with logs and cross back into Vietnam. The transportation occurs during the daytime and there is no attempt to hide the trafficking.


According to a villager, many of these logs are from acacia trees belonging to the state's forest plantations in Romeas Hek district. High-ranking Cambodian officials are doing big business selling off state timber to Vietnamese traders, who have a huge demand for this wood from furniture-makers.

However, when contacted by journalists, Mr. Sumol, the governor of Romeas Hek district, told Koh Santepheap [newspaper] that he has not heard about the above case, or of any such cases in his district, but he will immediately send his officials to investigate and take preventive measures if necessary.
And as of the afternoon of 19 March, 2023, it it is not possible to get an explanation from the Director of Forestry Administration in Romeas Hek district.

- Kohsantepheap

Other CEO news items on the Romeas Hek border gate between Cambodia and Vietnam:
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