In Rivne region, the SBU blocked the activities of a criminal group. The organizers set up a large-scale amber mining, processing and sale abroad.

SBU operatives exposed 16 miners on the illegal extraction of amber on the lands of state fund near the village of Novaky. Law enforcement seized five motor pumps, equipment, four vehicles and raw amber.

During 24 searches of the offenders’ residences, utility rooms and shops, the SBU confiscated:

• almost 650 kg of raw amber of different fractions;
• 35 hand-made motor pumps;
• other equipment intended for mining;
• draft records on sales of amber and its value;
• firearms (three items).

According to intelligence, they planned to smuggle the goods to an East Asia country.

The SBU established that ten residents of the city of Sarny are involved in illegal business. They illegally mined raw amber in order to sell it on the black market. The offenders bought part of the goods for resale from other miners.

Within the criminal proceedings initiated for illegal extraction, sale, acquisition, transfer, transportation, processing of amber, the pre-trial investigation is ongoing to bring the offenders to justice.

The operation was carried out under the supervision of Rivne Region Prosecutor's Office.