Five persons were arrested for illegally cutting trees and causing damage of about 1 million lei to the state as a result of their actions. It happened in Leova, Strășeni, Ialoveni and Orhei districts in September-December with the involvement of forestry companies, IPN reports, quoting the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Special Cases.

The arrested persons are foresters and heads of forestry companies. False accounting and other documents were issued in favor of members of the criminal group in order to give the impression they acted legally. The amounts of felled trees exceeded the volumes indicated in permits issued by Moldsilva Agency.

The firewood was sold to business entities for 1,000-1,200 lei per stere meter. For their part, the business entities sold the firewood to end-users for 1,800 lei per stere meter. The ill-gotten gains were shared with employees of forestry companies. About 800,000 lei was seized during searches. This sum is allegedly a part of the illegally made profit.

More persons are being investigated in this case.