Struga man charged and detained for illegal cutting of beech tree
Police detained a 45-year-old from Podgorci after he was found cutting an unmarked beech tree in a state forest parcel on 16 October 2026.
The Basic Police Station Struga filed a criminal complaint against R.A. (45) from the village of Podgorci on suspicion of the crimes "forest devastation" and "theft", the Ministry of Interior said.
On 16 October 2026, joint patrols of officers from the Basic Police Station Struga and the Forest Police in Struga carried out checks on the mountain belt above Podgorci and found the suspect cutting an unmarked beech tree located in a state-owned cadastral forest parcel with the intention of unlawfully taking it, the statement added.
The man was detained at the scene. The illegally felled timber was seized and turned over to the Forest Police for further procedures.
Criminal procedure started
Following the intervention, police prepared and submitted the criminal charge to the competent authorities. The complaint cites the suspected offences as "forest devastation" and "theft" and opens the way for further investigation and possible prosecution.
No additional details about the suspect's motive or any subsequent court measures were released by authorities.
Photo: press material from the event
