Cambodia: Border Road Deterioration and Suspected Illegal Exports

A paved road connecting National Road 7 to the Doung Rath border gate in Memut district, Tbong Khmum province, has suffered severe damage from the passage of large cargo trucks, turning into a series of potholes and waterlogged areas. Furthermore, suspicions have arisen regarding merchants diverting from transporting goods by truck to smuggling them via motorcycles from Vietnam, allegedly to avoid state taxes. Local residents reported that the road, initially constructed for public benefit, has gradually deteriorated due to the frequent transit of large vehicles transporting raw rubber from Cambodia to Vietnam. Currently, during the rainy season, it becomes waterlogged, making travel difficult. Repairs have not yet been undertaken for several months. There are also reports of vehicles transporting raw rubber avoiding the damaged road and instead entering through the Doung Rath gate via the Prasat Sla Mong checkpoint. On the ground, merchants have been observed using motorcycles heavily laden with various goods from Vietnam, passing through the Doung Rath gate and bringing them into Memut market. This activity is believed to be aimed at circumventing tax payments to the state. Mr. Chhun Yon, the commune chief of Rung village, acknowledged the road's damage by heavy cargo trucks and stated that local authorities have requested repairs from higher levels, but no results have been seen yet. Attempts to obtain clarification from Mr. Kong Saroeun, the head of customs at the Doung Rath gate, regarding suspected tax evasion and smuggling were unsuccessful, with the official unable to provide comments. In the past, mobile customs forces have seized several tons of smuggled goods at the Doung Rath gate. Years ago, two large trucks carrying raw rubber intended for export to Vietnam were intercepted by customs and only allowed to proceed after processing at a local rubber factory. Currently, raw rubber appears to be exported smoothly to Vietnam through the Doung Rath gate. Mr. Ly Bunson, director of the Tbong Khmum provincial customs and state enterprise branch, was also unavailable for comment regarding the export of thousands of tons of raw rubber monthly and the inflow of smuggled goods through the Doung Rath gate. Source: CEN Cambodia