Officals at the Sichuan and Chongqing Chamber of Commerce in Phnom Penh, Cambodia have been discovered running a wildlife trade centre where rare and endangered animals were skinned and processed before being shipped on to their destination countries. After agreeing to pay a fine the officials were released without charge.

The raid on the Sichuan and Chongqing Chamber of Commerce building was undertaken by Cambodia’s Forestry department, military police and officials from the NGO Wildlife Alliance. The authorities found parts from animals and also live animals being readied for transport. The haul included; 19 clouded leopard skins, 3 leopard skins, 2 Asian golden cat skins, 6 clouded leopard paws, 10 otter skins, 2 fake tiger skins and other body parts. After the raid on Tuesday the Wildlife Alliance described how many of the pelts discovered were fresh and still being dried on wooden frames in the building. They explained that this indicated the Chamber of commerce as not just being used as part of a transit route but animals were also being killed and processed at the building. In the back of the building a number of cages were found housing live animals including Long-Tailed macaques and turtles. Three Chinese nationals at the building were held for questioning and released after a fine of $25,000 was paid. Sar Rao, chief of the Forestry Administration’s mobile protection unit, said the men confessed to knowing about the animals and parts, but said they had not collected them. “They agreed to pay $25,000 as a fine because they realized their mistake,” Mr. Rao said, adding that the live animals had been moved to a zoo, while the skins and claws had become state property. No further action is to be taken against the traders. The property was rented to the Chamber of Commerce by the owner who is the wife of an official at the Council of ministers for Cambodia. Duy Khov said he did not know who was behind the rental of the house and his wife was approached by a Chinese-Cambodian who wanted the building for a Chinese business association. The raid on the building came following an intelligence gathering operation by the Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team – a partnership between Wildlife Alliance, the Cambodian Forestry Administration, and Military Police. Local reports said the building had been used as a soup shop and but was only visited by people in expensive luxury cars. The shop stopped operating a couple of months ago. Suwanna Gauntlett, founder and CEO of the Wildlife Alliance the size of the seizure and types of animals involved suggested it was a “large-scale operation”. (Source : Wildlife News)