Hun Sen Declares Thai Goods Entering via Land Border ‘Smuggled and Illegal’
Hun Sen Declares Thai Goods Entering via Land Border ‘Smuggled and Illegal’
PHNOM PENH, June 13, 2026 — Cambodian Acting Head of State Hun Sen has declared that all goods entering Cambodia through land border crossings with Thailand while the border remains closed should be considered illegal, calling them smuggled products that undermine national interests and dignity.
In a message posted on social media on Friday, Hun Sen said confusion, deliberate misinterpretation, corruption or misconduct by certain officials and dishonest traders may have contributed to the continued appearance of Thai products in Cambodian markets despite the closure of land border crossings between the two countries.
He stressed that as long as the Cambodia-Thailand land border remains closed, no goods should be able to enter through those crossings.
“When the land border is closed, people cannot cross and goods cannot cross,” Hun Sen said. “Any goods entering through land border crossings are illegal goods, smuggled goods, goods that harm the nation and insult the nation.”
The Acting Head of State distinguished between goods entering through land crossings and those arriving through maritime ports or airports, noting that sea and air transport routes between Cambodia and Thailand continue to operate normally and remain subject to customs regulations.
He said determining the legality of goods entering through seaports and airports falls under the jurisdiction of customs authorities, which are responsible for inspection and clearance procedures.
Hun Sen called on relevant authorities to focus enforcement efforts on products entering through land border routes, arguing that it would be impossible for goods to cross legally if the border remained officially closed.
He also dismissed claims that recently available Thai products may simply be old inventory remaining in stock. According to Hun Sen, some products currently being sold in Cambodia were manufactured in 2026, well after land border restrictions had already been in place.
“If the products were truly old stock, many of them should already be approaching or exceeding their expiration dates,” he said.
Hun Sen further urged Cambodian consumers to exercise caution in their purchasing decisions, emphasizing that consumers ultimately determine market demand.
“Consumers are the bosses,” he said. “Do not spend your money on products while allowing yourself and your nation to be looked down upon.”
The remarks come amid continued economic and political tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, with authorities on both sides maintaining restrictions at several border crossings while bilateral disputes remain unresolved.
