ESBU in the Lviv region exposed the smuggling of oak timber abroad

 Detectives of the Territorial Office of the ESBU in the Lviv region have completed a pre-trial investigation into the illegal export of timber to EU countries.

The investigation established that a resident of the Lviv region, registered as an individual entrepreneur, organized a scheme for the illegal export of oak timber.

For this purpose, he used documents containing false information, on the basis of which he obtained certificates of origin for timber and the lumber produced from it. The funds obtained from illegal activity were directed by the individual to the purchase of subsequent batches of unaccounted timber for the purpose of further export.

During the pre-trial investigation, ESBU detectives conducted searches, which resulted in the seizure of 22.6 m³ of timber that had already undergone customs clearance and was being prepared for illegal export abroad. The estimated value of the seized goods is over UAH 500,000.

The detectives documented facts of the illegal movement of forest products across the customs border using shipping documents containing false information during customs control at a checkpoint. The individual entrepreneur was notified of suspicion under Part 1 of the Art. 201-1, Part 2 of Art. 15, Part 1 of Art. 201-1, and Part 1 of Art. 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

Currently, the indictment has been drawn up and referred to the court. The pre-trial investigation is completed.

Operational support was provided by the Security Service of Ukraine in the Lviv region and the National Police of Ukraine (Strategic Investigations Department). Procedural guidance was carried out by prosecutors of the Lviv Regional Prosecutor's Office.