Belarus Police Bust Glass Wool Smuggling Ring, Recover Thousands of Rolls

Grodno, Belarus – In a coordinated operation this January, Belarusian law enforcement successfully dismantled a criminal network involved in the theft and smuggling of glass wool. Eight employees of a local glass wool factory conspired with a 42-year-old director of a private company to illegally divert and sell the material to Russia. The scheme involved violating production processes to create surplus glass wool, which was then transported and sold across the border. A 25-year-old Grodno resident was also detained for providing storage space for the stolen goods. "The suspects, aged 35 to 58, were apprehended during the transaction," stated a spokesperson for the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The operation resulted in the recovery of over 1800 rolls of glass wool, with an estimated loss to the company of 50,000 Belarusian rubles. All suspects face up to 12 years imprisonment. This case showcases the effectiveness of inter-agency cooperation in combating economic crime and protecting national interests.