Cambodia’s customs department will soon receive two patrol boats from the Japanese government, which will be used to combat smuggling.
A memorandum of acceptance for the watercraft was signed last month on the sidelines of the Council of the World Customs Organisation in Brussels, Belgium, according to an announcement from Cambodia’s General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE).
The boats have already been equipped with all the necessary systems, repainted and renamed. Cambodia will receive the boats by the end of October, GDCE said.
Under the agreement, local commanders will be trained on how to operate the watercraft.
Kun Nhim, GDCE director, said the patrol boats are badly needed to help curb smuggling activity in the Kingdom.
“The two customs patrol boats will play a significant role strengthening the GDCE to prevent and crack down on any smuggling at oceans and coastal areas,” he said, explaining that stopping smugglers will increase tax revenue at GDCE and improve business for those that transport goods legally.
