Fines of up to 13.5 thousand rubles await Belarusians who illegally extract sand for their dachas.

The Cost of "Your Own" Sand

The fine depends on who is violating the law:

Individuals — up to 30 base units (approximately 1,350 rubles);

Individual entrepreneurs — up to 100 base units (up to 4,500 rubles);

Legal entities — up to 300 base units (up to 13,500 rubles).

In addition, the offender will have to compensate for environmental damage. Even one truckload (approximately 20 tons) is valued at about 1,300 rubles.

When Criminal Liability May Arise

If the extraction is carried out in large volumes, is accompanied by corruption, or causes serious damage, criminal liability is incurred.

Belarus is not distinguished by a rich mineral base, and the state strictly accounts for every resource. Potash salts, rock salt, peat, oil, and construction materials — sand, clay, chalk, limestone — are considered strategic wealth of the country. Even if it seems that "sand for a dacha" is a trifle, it is regarded as an encroachment on state resources.