More than 110,000 tons of lumber linked to a billion-dollar illegal logging racket in Russia has found its way into the European market, according to Earthsight, a UK-based non-profit that investigates environmental crimes.
The lumber is connected to Russian timber giant BM Group and Asia Les, which illegally logged an estimated 600,000 cubic meters of protected taiga forest and processed the timber into products with a street value exceeding $1 billion, according to the Earthsight.
An investigation found that the timber flooding Europe from the illegal supply was certified legal and sustainable by the global Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification.
Alexander Pudovkin, the leader of the Russian timber company involved in the scandal, has since admitted to one count of bribery to fund his sawmill, but he remains in business. Imports of the illegal wood have also continued since the scandal broke, according to Earthsight.
The full report can be found here.
