The Security Service of Ukraine blocked smuggling of illegally manufactured amber products in Rivne region. During the searches, the law enforcement found amber and amber products worth almost UAH 2,5 m (USD 90,000).

The law enforcement established that the perpetrators were planning to smuggle the products to an Estern Asia country. Allegedly, the illegal business was set up by residents of the city of Sarny, who are currently under investigation for the same offence.

Despite this, the suspects were carrying on the illegal business. They were buying up the raw amber wholesale and illegally manufactured amber products for further sale to foreign customers.

During the searches of the suspects’ residences and workshop premises, the law enforcement found:

• 235 kilos of amber of large fractions;
• eight kilos of finished amber products;
• equipment for processing amber;
• off-the-record financial statements.

The investigation upon the illegal mining, sale, purchase, trafficking and smuggling of amber is ongoing. The issues of seizing the found items and serving suspicion notices to the perpetrators are being settled.

The operation was carried out jointly with the investigations of the Main Department of the National Police in Rivne region, under the supervision of Rivne Region Prosecutor’s Office.