Mykolaiv Region Criminals Face Prison for Illegal Logging Scheme

In Mykolaiv region, a criminal group that made money from illegal logging was exposed. They now face up to seven years in prison.

According to the press service of the National Police of Mykolaiv Police, law enforcement officers exposed and detained a group of residents of the Kamianomostiv community who had set up an illegal business in the felling of valuable tree species.

According to the investigation, three men aged 24 to 46 cut down oak, ash, maple and akia trees and then sold the wood through online ads, making illegal profits.

The criminals were detained by operatives of the Pervomaiskyi District Police Department during another felling in the forest belt. During the authorized searches of their homes, chainsaws, axes, mobile phones, cash in various currencies, vehicles and a large amount of wood were seized.

According to preliminary estimates, the illegal activity caused almost one million hryvnias in environmental damage. The three detainees were served a notice of conviction under Article 246 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The court imposed on them a measure of restraint in the form of round-the-clock house arrest for two months.

Police are continuing the investigation and checking for possible involvement in other similar crimes in the region.

In January, during an environmental protection raid near the village of Bezvodne in Mykolaiv district, illegal felling of white acacia trees was detected. The offenders were fined.

The inspectorate also received a report of large-scale felling of trees along the road between Kazanka and Novodanylivka - more than 200 trees were destroyed. The environmental damage was estimated at UAH 3.9 million.

Earlier, an organized criminal group engaged in illegal logging was detained in Mykolaiv region, causing more than one million hryvnias in losses to the state. According to the investigation, the scheme was organized by a law enforcement officer with the help of two accomplices. The offenders face three to five years in prison.

Анна Бальчінос