Russian investigators have uncovered an illegal oil extraction and trafficking operation in the Republic of Dagestan, leading to the arrest of four suspects accused of stealing large quantities of crude oil.

The criminal case involves an organized group suspected of large-scale oil theft and attempted bribery of a law enforcement officer, The Caspian Post reports via Kommersant.

Investigators believe the scheme was organized by a local resident in 2025. Between September 2025 and March 2026, members of the group siphoned crude oil from wells in Dagestan's Nogai District, transported it illegally, and sold it to oil refining enterprises.

The group stole at least 110 tonnes of oil products during the operation.

The investigation also alleges that the suspected organizer attempted to bribe a police officer with 200,000 rubles (about $2,500) to allow trucks carrying the illegally obtained oil to pass through checkpoints without inspection.

The officer refused the bribe and reported the incident to his superiors. The payment was subsequently documented during a joint operation conducted by Russia's Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Federal Security Service (FSB) in Dagestan.

The four suspects have been detained, and a court is expected to decide on pretrial detention measures as the investigation continues.