The indictment filed by the Specialized Environmental Prosecutor's Office of Odesa pertains to members of a criminal group engaged in illegal sand extraction from a quarry near the village of Bessarabskoye (formerly Tarutino) in the Bolgrad district. The area of this quarry is 67 hectares.

The accused face charges of illegal extraction of local mineral resources and money laundering obtained through criminal means (Part 4 of Article 240, Parts 1 and 2 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

Investigations revealed that the group members, without any permits and using heavy machinery, organized illegal sand extraction, which they later sold as 'legitimate'.

They marketed the extracted minerals to trusted buyers and at construction markets, creating the illusion of a fully legal business.

The organizer of the scheme turned out to be a local entrepreneur involved in the trade of construction materials, who recruited two acquaintances operating heavy machinery and a driver for sand transportation.

As a result of their illegal activities, the environment suffered damages amounting to nearly 900 thousand UAH.

The criminals were apprehended in September 2024 during the illegal extraction of mineral resources.

The pre-trial investigation was conducted by detectives of the Main Investigation Department of the National Police in Odesa, with operational support from the Department of Strategic Investigations of the National Police of Ukraine.

Note: According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.