Siem Reap: Banteay Srei Forestry Administration Forces has found 984 dead geckos transported by Virak Buntham vehicle in Siem Reap province. The vehicle was carrying two boxes of iced geckos to be delivered to Sihanoukville province for human consumption. Banteay Srei Forestry Administration Deputy Director Ly Sopha says they flagged down the vehicle on Tuesday evening for checking. However, they found dead geckos covered with ice resulting to the seizure of the vehicle.

The provincial authority found out that the geckos were transported from Moldulkiri province and will be distributed to the provinces of Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. Siem Reap Provincial Forestry Administration Director Mong Bun Lim says that smuggling geckos is a crime in the kingdom and the persons behind the smuggling of geckos will face legal consequences.

Despite being illegal, some Cambodians practice to consume geckos by mixing it with wine for healing. They believe that gecko wine can heal asthma and improve muscle strength as well as concentration.