Timber smuggling: ESBU in the Volyn completes pre-trial investigation

 Detectives of the Territorial Office of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine in the Volyn region have completed a pre-trial investigation in a criminal proceeding regarding the illegal export of timber to the Republic of Poland. The indictment against the company director has been submitted to the court.

The investigation established that the head of the enterprise organized the illegal export of over 30 cubic meters of timber. The wood was of illicit origin and had been acquired without the necessary transport or licensing documents.

Aware that the legal export of these products was impossible, the suspect obtained a certificate of origin for the timber based on documents containing false information. Subsequently, by using this certificate, timber whose export is prohibited by current legislation was illegally moved across the customs border of Ukraine.

Detectives notified the head of the enterprise of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 201-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (timber smuggling committed by an official through the abuse of their official position). The indictment has been submitted to the court.

Operational support in the criminal proceeding was provided by the Security Service of Ukraine in the Volyn region. Procedural guidance was carried out by prosecutors of the Volyn Regional Prosecutor's Office.