PHNOM PENH: The Phnom Penh Municipal Court charged four individuals in two separate cases involving the illegal importation of Thai frozen meat products and tax evasion.
The first case involved 43-year-old Ouk Sokrapanyarith, who was linked to the import of meatballs and various other products from Thailand. He was detained by authorities on June 10, during an inspection of a house in Svay Pak village, in Russey Keo district’s Svay Pak commune.
He was charged with “trading in food products that are altered, deteriorated, toxic or do not comply with microbiological or hygienic quality criteria; falsifying the origin of goods; and importing goods without authorisation”.
These charges fall under Articles 18 and 63 of the Law on the Management of Quality and Safety of Products, Goods, and Services; Article 31 of the Law on Rules of Origin; and Article 75 of the Law on Customs.
The second case involves three individuals: Phut Bunhorm, male, 46; Horm Maranet, female, 23; and Nyin Kimsuor, female, 39. They were apprehended during the June 10 inspection of a house in Thlok village, in Prek Pnov district’s Kouk Roka commune.
Authorities confiscated frozen chicken parts that were imported from Thailand without authorisation or tax payments. They face the same charges as the suspect in the first case.
During the border tensions of June 2025, Thailand unilaterally closed the land border. Cambodia subsequently banned the import of fruit and vegetables, fuel, electricity and internet services.
In December 2025, following the outbreak of the second round of armed clashes, the land border was completely closed.
Senate President Hun Sen clarified at the time that while travel remained possible via air or water, crossing the land border was prohibited.
Earlier this week, he reiterated that since the border is closed, no Thai goods are permitted to enter Cambodia via land routes. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
