About 400 cubic metres of firewood seized from a Skopje company

Skopje, 8 October 2026 — About 400 cubic metres of firewood, with an estimated market value of roughly 2 million denars (more than €30,000), have been seized from a Skopje-based company that trades in firewood, the deputy director of the Public Enterprise National Forests, Kire Mihailov, said.

The operation was carried out on the order of the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office and involved the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Forest Police, Mihailov said, adding that services from several subsidiaries of the public enterprise also took part.

Officials have been running an intensive probe for the last ten days into suspected irregularities linked to the wood, checking allegations of illegal transport and sale.

Investigation points to organised activity across regions

“From what we have so far as information, this appears to be a well-organized group that very likely for a prolonged period carried out illegal activities around the transport and sale of wood, from which activities very likely serious large illegal hidden revenues were generated,” Mihailov wrote.

He said preliminary indications suggest the activity may be connected to several areas — from Skopska Crna Gora and Kitka to mountainous parts of Gostivar and Veles.

Mihailov also said investigators are examining possible involvement of persons inside institutions who should have prevented such abuses. “Resolving this case will show that there are no untouchables, but that the law applies equally to all those who dared to abuse it, deceive or ignore it,” he wrote.

So far authorities have not released additional official information about the course of the investigation or any charges.

Photo: press material from the event