A large-scale scheme for the illegal export of timber has been uncovered in Bukovina
28 April 01:44
In Bukovina, law enforcement officials have dismantled a large-scale scheme involving the illegal export of timber to Moldova. According to the investigation, the timber was purchased without proper documentation, processed using forged certificates of origin, and shipped abroad. This was reported by the press service of the Office of the Prosecutor General, as reported by "Komersant Ukrainian"
According to the investigation, the scheme was organized by the head of a private company, who, between 2024 and 2025, purchased unregistered timber, legalized it using forged documents, and exported it to Moldova.
How the scheme worked
According to investigators, illegally harvested timber was registered as legal products. For this purpose, forged documents regarding its origin were used.
According to the prosecutor’s office, the scheme involved business owners, forestry workers, and drivers. They managed the entire chain—from harvesting and transporting the timber to its subsequent export outside Ukraine.
In essence, it was an organized mechanism that allowed timber to be exported abroad under the guise of legal products.
26 searches were conducted in the Chernivtsi region
Law enforcement officers conducted 26 searches in the Chernivtsi region. Investigative actions took place at wood processing enterprises, in warehouses and office premises, in vehicles, as well as at the residences of those involved in the case.
The operation was carried out by prosecutors from the Chernivtsi Regional Prosecutor’s Office in conjunction with detectives from the Economic Security Bureau, the National Police, and the Security Service of Ukraine.
During the investigative actions, law enforcement officers seized significant quantities of timber, documents, cash, and other physical evidence.
Specifically, the following were seized:
- approximately 1,000 cubic meters of timber;
- shipping and transport documents;
- tags for product marking;
- over 48,000 euros;
- 4,500 U.S. dollars;
- over 500,000 hryvnias;
- cell phones;
- dashcams;
- rough notes.
The total value of the seized items is approximately 10 million hryvnias.
Who has been notified of suspicion
Two executives of private companies in the forestry and woodworking industries have been notified of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 201-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. This article pertains to the illegal movement of timber across Ukraine’s customs border.
The Office of the Prosecutor General noted that they are currently identifying all participants in the scheme. This means that the circle of suspects in the case may expand.
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Schemes involving timber have already been uncovered in Bukovina
Previously, there were reports in the region of attempts to illegally export prohibited timber to the EU. According to the prosecutor’s office, one of the companies was supposed to supply timber under a contract with a Romanian company, but law enforcement uncovered violations during the export clearance process.
There were also earlier reports of illegal timber harvesting, disguised as sanitary logging, in the Vyzhnytskyi National Nature Park.
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