“We analyzed the entire chain from deforestation to export and identified a number of problems, including in the customs authorities on the procedure for declaring this forest. We sent these violations to law enforcement agencies. Corresponding work is underway now, ”RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.
Along with this, he added that the issue of introducing into circulation land that is empty or for which property rights are not delineated is currently being discussed.
Earlier, two criminal cases were opened by the Irkutsk Customs regarding the smuggling of lumber in large quantities to China.
In November 2019, law enforcement authorities in Siberia detained two local residents suspected of large-scale smuggling of timber from Russia abroad.
In October 2019, Irkutsk Customs opened a criminal case over the smuggling of lumber to Afghanistan.
On June 6, 2019, in Moscow, FSB officers detained Sergey Sheverda, Minister of the Forestry Complex of the Irkutsk Region. He is suspected of abuse of power. According to law enforcement agencies, he authorized illegal logging on an area of 120 hectares in the Tukolon nature reserve. The amount of damage is estimated at 748 million rubles.
Details are in the material RT.