Phnom Penh:The Cambodian Ministry of Interior has stated that authorities did not arrest or transfer an Australian national and a Norwegian national to Vietnamese authorities. This statement follows efforts to locate the two individuals after they were reported missing.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the Ministry issued a press release on October 7, detailing that the General Commissariat of National Police received a request from the Australian Embassy in Cambodia on September 22. The request concerned the disappearance of TRAN HIEP, an Australian passport holder.
That same night, the Ministry received confirmation that HIEP's companion, NGUYEN THUAN DUC, who holds a Norwegian passport, also lost contact with his family as of September 18.
Upon receiving this information, the General Commissariat of National Police instructed its specialized forces to conduct a thorough search and investigation. Records from the General Department of Immigration indicated that HIEP and DUC entered Cambodia from Thailand on September 15 via Techo International Airport on flight K6 723. There was no record of their departure from Cambodia, prompting continued investigation.
However, Vietnamese authorities publicly announced the detention of three individuals, including HIEP, DUC, and a Vietnamese national named THAI CONG TRUONG SON, on September 28. They were detained at the My Quy Tay Border Guard Station in Tay Ninh province for allegedly crossing into Vietnam illegally and being affiliated with the Viet Tan terrorist organization.
The Cambodian Ministry of Interior has categorically denied any involvement in the arrest or transfer of these individuals to Vietnamese authorities. The Ministry affirmed that the clarification was necessary following its investigation into the disappearance of the two foreign nationals and was based on information obtained through cooperation with relevant authorities.