Criminals Rake In £16M By Turning Spain Into Italy's Dumping Ground With Over 40,000 Tonnes Of Waste Annually

Today at 01:45 AM

Criminals are exploiting Spain as a dumping ground for over 40,000 tonnes of waste from Italy each year. This illegal trade rakes in £16 million annually while exposing Spanish communities to significant environmental and health hazards.

In a major victory against environmental crime, the Guardia Civil has dismantled a network that had been smuggling untreated urban waste from Italy to Spain annually since 2021. Code-named 'Rifiuti,' the operation uncovered how the organisation profited over £16 million (€19 million) by illegally disposing of waste at landfills in Tarragona and Cuenca.

The arrest of twenty-two individuals dealt a decisive blow to the criminal network. This group's activities have resulted in significant environmental damage and substantial financial losses for Italian tax authorities.

The Mechanics Of The Crime

The network's illicit operation was uncovered when authorities detected falsified documents accompanying the importation of Italian waste into Spain. This waste, which should have undergone proper treatment in Italy, was illegally transported directly to Spanish landfills by truck.

The Guardia Civil investigation uncovered a network of companies operating in Catalonia and Castilla-La Mancha that facilitated this illicit trade. These companies acted as intermediaries, covering the illegal entry and disposal of the waste, allowing the criminal network to avoid the costs associated with proper recycling or treatment.

Reuters reports that fifteen individuals and seven companies are under investigation for their alleged involvement in a criminal organisation. The charges against them include crimes against natural resources, the environment, and forgery.

'Even though the Italian companies had been contracted to manage the urban waste, they would divert its disposal to Spain in order to save costs, resulting in millions of euros in revenue at the expense of the Italian treasury,' the police said.

Falsified Permits Fuel Environmental Risks

The criminal network employed a deceptive strategy, utilising intermediary companies and falsified documents to fraudulently acquire permits from Catalan authorities. These falsified documents falsely claimed that the waste had undergone proper processing, facilitating its illegal transport and disposal in Spain.

The waste contained hazardous materials, posing significant risks to the environment and public health in the affected regions. Investigations revealed that the criminal network prioritised profit maximisation over strict adherence to European Union environmental standards.

Uncovering The Trail

During the investigation, authorities searched Tarragona and Cuenca, which led to the seizure of computer materials and waste samples, which were crucial for further investigative efforts. The Guardia Civil took decisive action to secure potential compensation for the environmental damage caused by the criminal network.

They implemented asset freezes, targeting the properties and bank accounts of the suspects involved. The investigation into this illegal dumping operation is ongoing, with authorities actively working to uncover the full extent of the criminal activity.

As reported by InSpain News, efforts are underway to identify and apprehend additional waste shipments and bring further network participants to justice.

Illegal Waste Trafficking On The Rise

In 2021, the European Union underscored the gravity of environmental crimes, including waste trafficking, by designating them as a priority area for action from 2022 to 2025, reflecting the growing urgency of this global challenge.

These criminal networks have expanded by 5-7% annually, solidifying waste trafficking as the fourth-largest criminal activity globally, trailing only drug trafficking, human trafficking, and counterfeiting. General Clemente García Barrios of Seprona issued a stark warning about the escalating threat of waste trafficking, stating, 'This illegal trade generates enormous sums and will only increase.'

Combating Waste Trafficking Through Collaboration

Operation 'Rifiuti' was a collaborative effort led by a court in Tarragona and executed by the Guardia Civil's Environmental Operations Unit (Ucoma) in close cooperation with Europol.

This case underscores the critical need for enhanced international cooperation to combat environmental crimes effectively. These criminal networks exploit regulatory loopholes and cause widespread ecological and social harm, demanding a coordinated global response.