SBU blocked a large-scale smuggling of processed amber to Asia.

Within the initiated criminal proceedings, SBU operatives established that a citizen of the Transcaucasian country together with Ukrainians set up illegal business. They bought illegally mined amber from northern districts of Rivne region and processed it at the production facilities of a private enterprise.

SBU officers documented that jewelry with forged shipping documents was exported via international checkpoints at Boryspil and Lviv airports.

During the searches, law enforcement officers seized 833 kilos of amber, including 169 kilos of ready goods, 401 kilos of processed stone, 263 kilos of unprocessed stone worth almost UAH 4,000,000 (USD 143,000). Amber processing equipment, documents, computers and other evidence of illegal activities were found as well.

The issue of seizing the confiscated property and serving the offenders a suspicion notice is being decided.

The pre-trial investigation upon the fact of violation of rules related to the protection of mineral resources is underway.

The operation was conducted under the legal supervision of Prosecutor's Office of Rivne region.