The chief of Irkutsk customs took part in the forum “the Forest – the main wealth of Eastern Siberia: the balance of interests of ecology and economy”

The chief of Irkutsk customs Yuri Rusakov took part in an expert meeting held in Irkutsk for the Fourth open forum “the Forest – the main wealth of Eastern Siberia: the balance of interests of ecology and economy.”

The organizers of the forum noted that the forum is a platform for open debate on topical issues between representatives of the prosecution and the wider expert community.

In the forum, in addition to event organizers, the heads of the Prosecutor’s office of the Irkutsk region, East Siberian transportation and the Baikal interregional environmental Prosecutor’s offices, was attended by acting Governor of Irkutsk region Igor Kobzev, the heads of law enforcement bodies and Executive authorities.

The format of a live conversation allowed in real time to discuss the most important topics concerning the main problems of the region in the forest sector, including issues related to the organization and implementation of works on reforestation, protection of forests, the disposal of the forests, the timber exports, etc.

The organizers of the forum noted that the outcome of the discussions will inform the work of bodies of Prosecutor’s office together with public institutions and responsible agencies.

Organization of customs control of timber and timber products, as well as close cooperation with public authorities and other Supervisory and law enforcement agencies aimed at preventing and combating violations in the forest sector, is one of the priority directions in the work of Irkutsk customs.

Yu. Rusakov, speaking at the forum, noted the significant reduction of export of round logs. So, at the end of 2019, the export of unprocessed timber is declared in the Irkutsk customs, amounted to 2.2 million cubic meters, which is 29% less than the same period of the previous year. In 2019, just in the Irkutsk customs was declared was 10.6 million cubic meters of exported timber.

By the end of 2019 Irkutsk customs on the channel of export of timber and timber were initiated 36 criminal cases: of these, 19 criminal cases related to violations of the currency legislation; 15 criminal cases initiated on smuggling of illegally harvested wood. In addition, the results of customs control 1296 filed cases on administrative offenses (AP).

The bulk of the crimes and offences connected with illegal export of timber and timber products, non-Declaration and false Declaration, as well as violations in the sphere of currency legislation.

Only in 2019 Irkutsk customs office revealed 5306 cases of violations of currency legislation in the field of timber exports for a total amount of 3.71 billion rubles.

In 2019 Irkutsk customs continued the practice of identifying and attracting exporters to administrative responsibility on the facts of gubbrockarna export of timber under the timber – only in 2019 according to the facts police initiated 512 cases of AP, which accounted for 40% of the total number of identified offenses.

Tatyana Krasavina,

a press-the Secretary of Irkutsk customs