An excavator crushes the boxes of counterfeit cosmetics on April 3, 2018 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Cambodian authorities on Tuesday destroyed more than 60 tons of counterfeit cosmetics confiscated in recent months, officials said. (Xinhua/Phearum)

PHNOM PENH, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian authorities on Tuesday destroyed more than 60 tons of counterfeit cosmetics confiscated in recent months, officials said.

Speaking at the event held on the southwestern outskirts of Phnom Penh, Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng said it was the second large-scale destruction of the fake cosmetics after the first destruction of over 80 tons in October last year.

"This is a huge amount of fake cosmetic products, and if we had not cracked down on them on time...these fake cosmetic products would cause serious dangers to the health of users or sometimes cost their lives," he said.

Mech Sophanna, chairman of the Committee for Combating Counterfeit Products, said the destroyed counterfeit cosmetics were hair dyes, hair sprays, shampoos and conditioners, face and skin whitening lotions, lipsticks, and perfumes.

"Today's ceremony is a message to counterfeit product makers and distributors that we will continue to do our best to prevent and confiscate fake products for destruction," he said.