According to the investigation, in January 2025, in the village of Dovhovolia in the Varash district, law enforcement officers uncovered a man who, under the guise of volunteer assistance and covered with a camouflage net, was transporting amber. 

During a search of his vehicle, nearly 68 kg of "sunny" stones were discovered and seized.

During a sanctioned search of the suspect's garage, about 60 kg of amber were seized. 

According to the Law of Ukraine № 637/97-VR, amber is considered a precious stone and, according to the List of minerals of national and local significance, approved by the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine № 827 dated 12.12.1994, is classified as a mineral of national significance. According to Law of Ukraine № 402-IX dated 19.12.2019, for possession, trade, or other operations — documents confirming legal origin, such as extraction permits, gemological examination reports, receipts or invoices from legal sellers, agreements with landowners, etc.

The man was unable to provide any documents confirming the legal origin of the stones.

According to the conclusion of the gemological examination, the value of the seized stones exceeds 1.5 million UAH.

Under the procedural guidance of environmental prosecutors from the Rivne region, he was informed of the suspicion of storing and transporting amber, the legal origin of which is not confirmed by the relevant documents, committed in significant amounts (part 2 of article 240-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

By court decision, the vehicle and the seized stones have been arrested. The issue of choosing a preventive measure for the suspect is being resolved.

The pre-trial investigation is being conducted by the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Rivne region.

The sanction of the article provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment for a term of 4 to 7 years with confiscation of property.

Note: according to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in a lawful manner and established by a guilty verdict of the court.