Operations were conducted by the employees of the Main Department of Combating Organized Crime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs with the participation of experts from the Forestry Development Service of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources to detain members of another group engaged in illegal cutting and processing of trees in forest areas in the country.

APA was informed about this by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

It was noted that information was received from the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources about massive felling of trees in the forest massifs located in the southern regions of the country, as well as in the territory of the "Hirkan" National Park.

Those data were taken under control and investigated, necessary operational measures were implemented.

As a result, beech, birch, alder, etc. were planted in the mentioned areas.

it was determined that valuable tree species were cut down en masse.

As a result of the operational and search measures carried out, the leaders of the organized group engaged in cutting those trees, Anar Ibrahimov, Ramin Gafarov, Rasif Agayev, as well as Alim Aliyev, Emin Sadikhov, Rahim Rahimov, Niyamaddin Nabiyev, Ramin Ibadov, Elsever Gafarov, who were involved in the cutting of trees by them. Hafiz Mammadov was identified and detained.

Illegal actions of gang members, their cutting and selling of trees have been proved by irrefutable facts.

During the investigations, it was found that the detained persons sold the trees after cutting and processing them.

Firewood illegally sold by gang members to wood processing shops, as well as other material evidence, were discovered and taken from their warehouses.

Based on the opinion of the experts of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, it was determined that the trees cut by the members of the gang were wet and as a result, a large amount of damage was done to the forest massif.

Regarding the facts, a criminal case has been initiated in the General Department under the relevant articles of the Criminal Code, and the necessary investigative actions are being carried out.

Operative-investigative measures are being continued to detain other members of the group involved in cutting and processing trees.