A scheme involving the illegal extraction of granite worth over 1.2 billion hryvnias has been uncovered in the Kirovohrad region
In the Kirovohrad region, officers from the National Police’s Special Investigation Department have uncovered a scheme involving the illegal extraction of granite at the Sugokliivskyi deposit. One of the individuals involved has been served with a notice of suspicion.
According to the investigation, officials at the quarry, together with representatives of affiliated companies, organised the illegal extraction of minerals without holding a special permit for subsoil use.
Law enforcement officers established that the participants in the scheme carried out ten blasting operations for the purpose of extraction. As a result, over 375,000 cubic metres of granite were illegally extracted.
According to preliminary estimates, the losses incurred by the state amount to over 1.2 billion hryvnias.
Furthermore, the investigation has uncovered evidence of the laundering of criminally obtained assets amounting to over 315 million hryvnias.
Investigators have notified one of the participants in the scheme that they are suspected of an offence under Part 4 of Article 240 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which concerns the violation of rules governing the protection or use of subsoil resources and the illegal extraction of minerals.
The pre-trial investigation is ongoing under the procedural supervision of the Kirovohrad Regional Prosecutor’s Office. Law enforcement officers are identifying other individuals who may be involved in the illegal extraction.
In accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven in accordance with the law and established by a court conviction.
