Three residents of Transcarpathia face up to 8 years in prison for illegally extracting 5,000 cubic meters of gravel.

In Transcarpathia, a 54-year-old resident of the village of Korolevo, along with his 32-year-old son and a 48-year-old fellow villager, organized the illegal extraction of sand and gravel mix from the Tisza River. The individuals illegally removed over 5,600 cubic meters of minerals from the riverbed. They face a prison sentence of 5 to 8 years for their actions.

As reported by the police of the Transcarpathian region on November 4, the residents of Korolevo used specialized equipment for the illegal gravel extraction – 2 excavators and 4 dump trucks.

“The suspects systematically extracted sand and gravel mix from the protective coastal strip and the riverbed of the Tisza without any permits, transported it to temporary storage locations, and later sold it under the organizer's instructions. In total, they illegally extracted over 5,600 cubic meters of minerals,” the law enforcement officers stated.

The authorities confiscated the equipment and seized other assets worth 1.7 million UAH. The criminal case has been referred to the court. For the illegal extraction of minerals of national significance committed by an organized group, they face a prison sentence of 5 to 8 years.