Three people have been arrested and 27 pythons, weighing a combined 150kg, have been seized in Siem Reap province’s Pouk district, near the Tonle Sap Lake.
The provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries reported that the arrests took place yesterday, October 22, Peam Ta Our village, Keo Por commune.
The suspects were identified as Lat Sophea, a 30-year-old man, and two women, Chhuot Da, 24, and Prum Lom, 66.
All three are residents of Prek Toal village, Koh Chivang commune, Ek Phnom district, Battambang province.
The authorities released the pythons back into their natural habitat near Krang village, Ta Siem commune, in Siem Reap’s Svay Leu district, while the three suspects are in custody pending formal charges.