10,000 tons of sand were stolen in Dzerzhinsk.

      Video screenshot of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Nizhny Novgorod Region

      In the Nizhny Novgorod Region, police captured a group of individuals who illegally stole a large amount of sand. This was reported by the press service of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Nizhny Novgorod Region.

      According to investigators, from May 2024 to July 9, 2025, local residents used construction equipment to illegally extract sand from a site located in Dzerzhinsk. They did not have permits for exploration or extraction from the Ministry of Ecology. As a result, a large pit—a quarry—appeared on site, confirming that they illegally extracted at least 10,000 tons of sand.

      On July 9, police officers, together with Rosgvardia colleagues and specialists from the Ministry of Ecology, detained the organizers of this illegal activity. They seized documents, drafts, computers, and construction machinery (dump trucks and a loader) used for extracting and transporting sand.

      A criminal case has been initiated against the suspects. According to the law, such actions can result in up to 10 years of imprisonment and a substantial fine.