Man sentenced for dangerous poaching in Anykščiai district

A 69-year-old man from Anykščiai district has been sentenced to 60 days in custody and a fine of €2,000 for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, following a case of dangerous poaching, reports ELTA.

The man, identified as V. U., had set up traps in a forest near Šilelis that were not only lethal to wildlife but also posed a deadly risk to humans. Environmental Protection Department officers discovered the traps during an inspection last summer after finding a wild animal carcass. The traps included two improvised firearms (16-gauge and 12-gauge) rigged with tripwires that would trigger a shot when disturbed. One bullet had struck a tree, while another appeared to have killed a wild boar found nearby, partially butchered and removed.

Authorities launched a pre-trial investigation into the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, led by the Utena District Chief Police Commissariat’s Anykščiai Police Commissariat. Prosecutor Arvydas Miečius of the Panevėžys Regional Prosecutor’s Office supported the state’s accusation in court, emphasizing the extreme danger of such devices.

“Improvised firearms operating on a delay principle pose a significant threat to public safety, as their operation is uncontrollable, and a shot could be directed not only at an animal but also at a random person. Such actions violate public safety interests and cannot be tolerated,” the prosecutor stated, requesting a real custodial sentence.

During the investigation, a search of V. U.’s property revealed remains of various wild animals, materials similar to those used in the forest traps, prohibited hunting and fishing tools, and parts of a device for producing strong alcoholic beverages. Administrative violation protocols were drawn up for these findings, resulting in fines and the confiscation of the illegal equipment.

The Utena District Court found V. U. guilty and combined the new sentence with a previous one. The verdict can be appealed to the Panevėžys Regional Court within 20 days of its announcement.