Ukraine's SBU Security Service together with police have rounded up a group of persons involved in the purchase and refining of illegally mined amber for resale and transportation to Asia, the SBU press service reported on Thursday.

"The men – four residents of Korostensky and Luhynsky districts – bought raw amber from illegal miners in Zhytomyr and Rivne regions. Refining operations were done in a garage of one of the suspects…," the SBU said, adding that experts estimated the worth of seized amber at around UAH 5 million.

A criminal investigation pursuant to Part 3 of Article 15 and Part 2 of Article 240 (illegal mining) of Ukraine's Criminal Code has been opened.