SBU blocked the scheme of large-scale embezzlement of state forest resources in Zhytomyr region.

Heads of one of the region's forestry established a mechanism for illegal sale of wholesale batches of conifers trees. Officials organized deforestation above established norms under the guise of sanitary and planned fellings. They sold unaccounted wood to affiliated enterprises at prices double higher than market.

Every week dealers illegally sold about forty cubes of wood. According to intelligence, heads of forestry embezzled over 1800 cubes of wood amounting to UAH 3 million. During the searches in administrative premises of the state institution, places of residence of involved persons and registration of customer firms, the law enforcement officers seized the documents with evidence of illegal activity. Also, more than 100 cubes of wood prepared for illegal sales have been found.

Within the framework of criminal proceedings initiated under Part 5 Art. 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the investigative actions on bringing to the criminal responsibility other offenders involved in the deal are under way. The operation was conducted jointly with the State Bureau of Investigations Territorial Directorate in Khmelnytslyi, the State Ecology Inspection under the legal supervision of the regional Prosecutor's Office.