PETROZAVODSK, December 31 (AVN) - Karelain police officers have exposed over 700 crimes and offences in the republic's forestry this year, a spokesman for the Karelian police headquarters told the Military News Agency.
The most frequent offences are illegal deforestation and theft of wood, which is considered the main source of income for this northern Russian region. For example, a criminal operating in the Gakugsky district cut clear 190 cubic metres of wood costing over RUR60,000 (USD2,200).
Forestries are unable to protect their territory, that is why police have to patrol forests. Over 200 criminal cases were brought on charges of environmental offences this year.