A case involving 1.4 million in sand extraction has been referred to court in the Odesa region

In the Odesa region, police have concluded an investigation into employees of a municipal utility company accused of illegally extracting more than 1,300 cubic meters of sand. The losses to the state resulting from the unauthorized use of mineral resources were estimated at 1.4 million hryvnias.

This was reported by the press service of the National Police in Odesa Oblast.

Those involved include the director, chief engineer, a mechanic, and five drivers of specialized vehicles at a municipal enterprise in the Podilskyi District. According to police, the 37-year-old director of the enterprise organized the illegal extraction together with his subordinates.

<picture></picture>PHOTO: od.npu.gov.ua

According to investigators, from November 2025 to April 2026, they extracted sand from quarries near Kodima for subsequent sale. To do this, they used the utility company’s equipment and vehicles belonging to the director’s relatives.

To conceal the illegal origin of the sand, employees of the municipal enterprise prepared delivery notes and waybills that appeared to comply with legal requirements. During the investigation, law enforcement officers documented the group’s activities and seized the equipment used for extraction.

The director, chief engineer, and mechanic were charged with the large-scale illegal extraction of mineral resources committed by an organized group. Five additional drivers of specialized vehicles were charged with the illegal extraction of minerals as part of a premeditated conspiracy by a group of individuals.

<picture></picture>PHOTO: od.npu.gov.ua

The indictments have already been submitted to the court. If found guilty, the defendants face up to eight years in prison.

Additionally, the construction of a site on the Odesa-Reni international highway led to a criminal case involving the illegal extraction of construction materials. The court concluded the case against the company’s director, who pleaded guilty and reached a plea agreement with the prosecutor’s office.

Анна Літман