Illegal amber processors were exposed in Volyn

Illegal amber processors were exposed in Volyn
Katerina Belousova

Prosecutors seized 85 products made of "sun stones" with a total weight of more than 4 kg

In Volyn, prosecutors found an underground amber processing shop, and seized 24 kg of raw amber from its employees.

The shop was discovered as part of a criminal investigation into the illegal acquisition, storage, transportation, processing, and sale of amber, the Volyn Regional Prosecutor's Office reported on Facebook.

The report says that prosecutors conducted searches at the suspects' homes. They also seized amber from them:

  • 85 products made of "sun stones" with a total weight of more than 4 kg;
  • 23 machines for processing no
  • laptop, mobile phones;
  • financial reporting documents and draft records.

"The question of imposing an arrest on the seized goods and material values, the value of which will be determined by an expert opinion," the press service emphasized.

It is noted that prosecutors are currently identifying all persons involved in illegal activities in order to bring them to justice.

In Rivne region, police exposed eight members of the group, including one of the local community members, who had set up illegal mining, processing and sale of amber and seized 200 kg of stones from them. According to preliminary data, the value of the amber is almost UAH 4.5 million.

As EcoPolitic previously reported, in Volyn, environmental inspectors found illegal sand mining in the Dubove community worth over UAH 86.1 million and UAH 23.1 million in the Liublyntsi community.

Related
Digest of environmental crimes: the fight for nature reserves, millions from mineral resources and pollution
Digest of environmental crimes: the fight for nature reserves, millions from mineral resources and pollution

The former director of one of the branches of ‘Forests of Ukraine’ has been charged with negligence, which led to 226 hectares of state-owned forest becoming ‘Medvedchuk’s holiday home’

Sand was stolen from the state for three years: the traffickers caused damage to the environment amounting to over 48 million UAH
Sand was stolen from the state for three years: the traffickers caused damage to the environment amounting to over 48 million UAH

Those involved in the scheme laundered illegally extracted minerals through companies under their control

Despite assets worth 27 million hryvnias of dubious origin, the State Bureau of Investigation has closed the case against the former director of a forestry enterprise in Volyn
Despite assets worth 27 million hryvnias of dubious origin, the State Bureau of Investigation has closed the case against the former director of a forestry enterprise in Volyn

A person implicated in a case of illicit enrichment continued to work at one of the forestry offices of the state-owned enterprise ‘Forests of Ukraine’