Login Register

Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Siem Reap authorities ready to destroy seized weapons

Siem Reap authorities ready to destroy seized weapons

| Publication date 26 October 2016 | 07:00 ICT

Siem Reap authorities look over a cache of nearly 1,000 weapons seized across the province over the past year. Photo supplied
Siem Reap authorities look over a cache of nearly 1,000 weapons seized across the province over the past year. Photo supplied

Siem Reap authorities ready to destroy seized weapons

More than 1,000 rifles, machine guns and homemade weapons are awaiting destruction after having been confiscated by authorities across 12 districts in Siem Reap province since late 2015, an official said yesterday.

The weapons were collected by the provincial department of weapons and explosives, which on Monday transported them to a warehouse to prepare them for disposal, said Lieutenant Chhet Nha, chief of the provincial explosive weapons office.

“We collected a total of 982 . . . weapons from all districts,” he said. “Most of them are recycled weapons and were collected little by little from the forest. Some of them were buried in the ground; some were from illegal acts, such as robberies and illegal wildlife shootings.”

Among the weapons are 291 AK-47s, 100 CKC rifles, five B69 air guns, six RPD gun machines, 15 AR15-style rifles, seven RPK rifles, 192 air rifles and 351 homemade rifles.

“We are waiting for an order to have them burn down in the future,” he said.

Contact author: Thik Kaliyann

MOST VIEWED

  • Joy as Koh Ker Temple registered by UNESCO

    Cambodia's Koh Ker Temple archaeological site has been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. The ancient temple, also known as Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is located in

  • Famed US collector family return artefacts to Cambodia

    In the latest repatriation of ancient artefacts from the US, a total of 33 pieces of Khmer cultural heritage will soon return home, according to the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. In a September 12 press statement, it said the US Attorney’s Office for the

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • Kampot curfew imposed to curb ‘gang’ violence

    Kampot provincial police have announced measures to contain a recent spike in antisocial behaviour by “unruly’ youth. Officials say the province has been plagued by recent violence among so-called “gang members”, who often fight with weapons such as knives and machetes. Several social observers have

  • Manet touches down in Beijing for high-level meetings

    Prime Minister Hun Manet arrived in Beijing on September 14 for his first official visit to China, where he is slated to attend the 20th China-ASEAN Expo and meet other leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping. Upon his arrival, Manet laid a wreath at the Monument

  • CP denied registration documents by ministry

    The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do

Related articles