Over a tonne of amber that was discovered five years ago became state property, being transferred to the State Tax Service. The fiscal authorities are to examine the stones and to use them for state purposes given that the court of law ordered special confiscation, IPN reports.

According to the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Special Cases, a scheme for the illegal export of amber to Hong Kong, China by air was identified in the summer of 2015. The criminal case was started by the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office. Those to blame were held accountable, but the amber wasn’t confiscated.

As a result of inspections at the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Special Cases and the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office ordered by Prosecutor General Alexandr Stoianoglo this January, the location of the precious stones was identified and the amber was returned to the fiscal authorities. The amber is now being examined. The investigation goes on.