Poachers devised a cunning scheme to catch fish for sale in the Chernobyl zone
The State Inspectorate for Nature Protection and Environmental Protection reported that a resident of Gomel, who is not officially employed anywhere, organized a group of teenagers engaged in illegal fishing in the radiation-contaminated zone, where a control and access regime is in force.
The organizer developed a plan, distributed roles among the participants, and devised a cover-up method. Posing as ordinary vacationers, they set up a camp with tents in a supposedly clean zone and even played music to avoid raising suspicion.
During the day, the group members relaxed on the river bank and monitored the surroundings. In the evening, they crossed to the opposite bank — into the exclusion zone — on two inflatable boats.
There, in a floodplain reservoir, they set fishing nets with a total length of over 650 meters.
As a result, more than 100 kilograms of various fish were caught. It was planned that it would then be sold. The organizer was well aware that the territory where the catch was made was contaminated with radiation.
During the group's apprehension, the man who organized the scheme fled, abandoning his underage accomplices. However, his identity was quickly established, and the offender was subsequently detained.
The damage caused to the environment was estimated at 1236 basic units. The timely detection of poaching prevented radiation-contaminated fish from reaching the market and consumers.
Regarding the organizer, the Vetka District Department of the Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case under Part 4 of Article 281 of the Criminal Code of Belarus. The question of holding him accountable for involving minors in committing a crime is also being decided.