The leader of illegal sand mining on an industrial scale was detained in Kharkiv region. Photo

The leader of illegal sand mining on an industrial scale was detained in Kharkiv region. Photo facebook.com/SecurSerUkraine
Katerina Belousova

Stolen subsoil was sold through an extensive network of affiliated commercial structures

In Kharkiv Oblast, the Security Service of Ukraine detained the organizer of a criminal group for illegal mining of construction sand on an industrial scale worth UAH 1 billion.

The violator hid from the investigation for more than 5 months, the Security Service of Ukraine reports on Facebook.

At the beginning of 2022, the SSU neutralized a criminal group that established underground mining of minerals in the Kharkiv region. Criminals set up several illegal quarries on the territory of Rohansk community and sold the stolen mineral resources through an extensive network of affiliated commercial structures.

"Then the law enforcement officers detained three organizers of illegal business. However, their leader hid from the investigation and was declared a national wanted person," the SSU said.

facebook.com/SecurSerUkraine

facebook.com/SecurSerUkraine

The violator was informed of the suspicion of committing a crime, the issue of choosing a preventive measure in the form of detention is currently being resolved.

"It was established that the attacker was part of the closest circle of the deceased criminal authority nicknamed "Prince". His group is involved in deliberate murders, raids and kidnappings in Kharkiv, Dnipro and Poltava regions. The gang was neutralized during a large-scale special operation of the SSU in July 2020," the article says.

The SSU conducts comprehensive measures to identify and bring to justice all persons involved in crimes against Ukraine.

The perpetrator was detained by SSU employees together with the police under the procedural guidance of the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.

As EcoPolitic reported before, they illegally mined in the Rivne region on the territory of the Duben forest farm 4616 cubic meters of building sand, which caused damage to the state in the amount of more than 4.6 million hryvnias.

Related
In Kharkiv, the authorities have backed the creation of a nature reserve near Osnovyansky Lake
In Kharkiv, the authorities have backed the creation of a nature reserve near Osnovyansky Lake

At the same time, signatures are being collected for a petition to the city council calling for the establishment of a nature reserve

Work at the andesite quarry in Zakarpattia is continuing without an environmental permit, but the court has refused to halt it
Work at the andesite quarry in Zakarpattia is continuing without an environmental permit, but the court has refused to halt it

The company even acquired more than 32 hectares of woodland under an easement, but the court saw no grounds for returning it to the state

Digest of environmental crimes: widespread corruption among forestry officials and environmental pollution
Digest of environmental crimes: widespread corruption among forestry officials and environmental pollution

Most of the crimes uncovered involve foresters implicated in illegal logging, the embezzlement of public funds and negligence, which is causing damage to the forests

Landscape park to make way for mining: the ‘Malovanka’ plot is to be sold at auction
Landscape park to make way for mining: the ‘Malovanka’ plot is to be sold at auction

The Ministry of Economy had pointed out that the plot was part of a protected area, but this did not affect the sale