Lorraine Williamson
The Guardia Civil has dismantled a criminal network that smuggled 40,000 tons of untreated urban waste from Italy to Spain every year since 2021. The operation, named ‘Rifiuti,’ uncovered how the organisation earned over €19 million by illegally dumping waste at Spanish landfills in Tarragona and Cuenca.
Twenty-two individuals were arrested, and the group’s operations have been linked to significant environmental damage and financial losses for Italian tax authorities.
How the network operated
The criminal scheme was uncovered when authorities detected falsified documents used in the importation of Italian waste into Spain. The waste, which should have been processed in Italy, was transported by truck directly to Spanish landfills without undergoing proper treatment.
The Guardia Civil revealed that a network of companies in Catalonia and Castilla-La Mancha facilitated the trade. These companies provided cover for the waste’s illegal entry and disposal, avoiding costly recycling or treatment processes.
According to Seprona, Spain’s environmental protection unit, over 40,000 tons of waste were illegally dumped each year, bypassing environmental regulations that require countries to manage their own waste.
Falsified permits and environmental risks
The organisation used intermediary companies and falsified documents to obtain permits from the Catalan authorities. These documents claimed that the waste had been properly processed, allowing its transport and disposal in Spain.
In reality, the waste contained hazardous materials, posing risks to ecosystems and public health in the affected areas. Investigations revealed that the criminal network prioritised profit over compliance with European Union environmental standards.
Seizures and further investigations
Searches conducted in Tarragona and Cuenca resulted in the seizure of computer materials and waste samples. The Guardia Civil also froze the properties and bank accounts of the suspects to secure potential compensation for environmental damages.
The exact extent of the illegal dumping operation is still under investigation, as authorities work to uncover additional waste shipments and identify more participants in the network.
Waste trafficking: A growing global issue
Illegal waste trafficking is a growing concern worldwide. In 2021, the European Union classified environmental crimes, including waste trafficking, as a priority for 2022-2025. These criminal networks expand by 5-7% annually, making waste trafficking the fourth-largest criminal activity globally, following drug trafficking, human trafficking, and counterfeiting.
General Clemente García Barrios of Seprona has warned that waste trafficking is becoming a major environmental challenge: “This illegal trade generates enormous sums and will only increase.”
Collaborative efforts to combat the crime
Operation ‘Rifiuti’ was led by a court in Tarragona and carried out by the Guardia Civil’s Environmental Operations Unit (Ucoma), with support from Europol. This case highlights the need for international cooperation to tackle environmental crimes that exploit regulatory loopholes and cause widespread harm.