Mine territory seized and coal worth UAH 1 billion extracted: criminal organization exposed
Kyiv • UNN
Law enforcement officers exposed a criminal organization that was illegally mining coal at a mine in Donetsk region. The losses to the state exceeded one billion hryvnias, and nine people were detained, including the head of the village council.
Illegal coal mining worth more than a billion hryvnias was uncovered in Donetsk region. Law enforcement officers conducted more than 20 searches. The organizer and eight members of the criminal organization were detained, and one more is wanted, UNN reports, citing the Prosecutor General's Office.
... documented and terminated the activities of a criminal organization that was engaged in the illegal extraction and sale of hard coal during 2021-2024. Currently, ten participants have been notified of suspicion of creating, managing a criminal organization, as well as participating in it, counteracting legitimate economic activity, forgery and use of forged documents, illegal mining (Art. 255, parts 1-3, Art. 206, parts 3, 4, Art. 358, part 3, 240 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine)
Details
According to the investigation, in September 2021, members of a criminal organization, threatening with physical violence and forging official documents, seized the territory of a mine in Donetsk region.
The criminal association consisted of physically trained citizens who were responsible for the seizure of the property complex and its subsequent protection, as well as persons familiar with coal mining and its sale. One of the active members of the criminal organization was the head of the village council where it operated.
The suspects were engaged in illegal coal mining without special permits and sold the product through a number of enterprises to the public and budget organizations.
Their activities caused the state more than a billion hryvnias in losses, the prosecutor's office said.
Law enforcement officers conducted more than 20 searches at the residences of suspects and other persons who may be involved in criminal activity in Kyiv, Kyiv, Dnipro and Donetsk regions. Over UAH 1.4 million, communication equipment, draft accounting, data storage media, computer equipment, 7 vehicles, and other material evidence confirming the illegal activity were found and seized.
The organizer and eight members of the criminal organization were detained, and one more is wanted. The issue of choosing a measure of restraint is currently being decided.
