In an unprecedented operation against illegal amber diggers in Ukraine's western Rivne region on June 4 police arrested several high-rank officials, suspected of controlling and covering the so-called mines. More than 300 Special task officers conducted around 123 searches of homes of the persons, linked to the criminal case, and confiscated sacks of gold, amber, collections of expensive and elite watches and more.
Ukraine Today: Ukraine declares full-scale war on ‘amber mafia’ (PHOTOS, VIDEO)
The armed policemen stand next to the sacks with some 2,640 kilograms of the illegally extracted amber by the office of Minister of Interior Affairs in Kyiv on Aug. 4, 2015.
