Police detained members of lumberjack gang

Employees of the Main Department for Combating Organized Crime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (“gang department”), with the participation of specialists from the Forest Development Service of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, carried out an operation to detain members of a group engaged in illegal felling of trees in forests and wood processing, oxu.az reports citing press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The Main Department received operational information about the illegal mass cutting of valuable tree species – oak and pistachio – in the Astara and Lerik regions. 

As a result of the operational-search activities, it was established that these trees were cut down by members of an organized group led by residents of the Astara region Serdar Ganjiev and Sarkhad Eynullayev.

During the operation, these persons and other members of the group Farman Farziyev, Ayaddin Novruzov, Nurlan Jovziyev, his relative Surkhay Jovziyev, Ragid Ganjiyev and Nail Zabiyev were detained.

The illegal felling of trees by members of the gang and the sale of processed wood to woodworking workshops are proven by irrefutable facts. During the investigation, it was established that the detainees committed their actions in the courtyard of F. Farziyev. A storage area for a large number of trees and firewood was also identified.

According to experts, some of the trees cut down by the criminals are 100-150 years old.

On this fact, a criminal case has been initiated at the Main Department, the necessary investigative measures are underway to identify and detain other persons involved in the illegal felling of trees.

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