In Kharkiv region, the SSU has located and detained the organizer of a criminal group that was stealing subsoil resources in the eastern region.

For over 5 months, the crime boss had been hiding from the law enforcement in connection with the investigation into illegal extraction of construction sand on an industrial scale.

According to the examination conclusions, his group’s activity caused losses to the state budget and harm to environment in the amount of almost UAH 1 bln (USD 30 mln).

Earlier this year, the SSU dismantled a criminal group that organized clandestine mining of minerals in Kharkiv region. Criminals set up several illegal quarries in Rohan United Territorial Community to extract sand on an industrial scale.

The stolen subsoil was sold through an extensive network of affiliated commercial entities.

Then, the law enforcement detained three organizers of the illicit  business. However, their leader hid from investigation and was declared wanted.

The detainee has been notified of suspicion. The court is to decide on detention as a preventive measure.

It was established that the detainee was a member of the closest circle of the deceased criminal boss aka Knyaz, whose group is involved in deliberate murders, raiding and kidnappings in Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Poltava regions.

The activities of this criminal group affected the social and political situation in these regions in favor of the agressor’s special services.

The gang was neutralized as a result the SSU’s large-scale special operation in July 2020.

The arrest of the suspect was carried out by the SSU Kharkiv Office together with the National Police and under the procedural supervision of Kharkiv Region Prosecutor’s Office.