Lorraine Williamson
The Guardia Civil has dismantled a criminal network allegedly responsible for trafficking over 41,000 tonnes of plastic waste across Spain and internationally. The investigation, named Operación Finoplast, led to the arrest of five individuals and the formal investigation of 15 others.
The case began in late 2022, when officers from Seprona – the Guardia Civil’s environmental protection unit – discovered an illegal landfill at a disused brick factory in the Bierzo region of León. Several thousand tonnes of plastic waste were found at the site, which lacked any environmental authorisation.
Waste originated in France and Portugal
As the investigation progressed, officers discovered the waste originated largely from agricultural sources in France and Portugal. Heavy goods vehicles transported the waste into Spain on return trips, depositing it at multiple illegal storage sites, including locations in La Bañeza (León) and Alberic (Valencia).
According to seized documents, over 18,800 tonnes of plastic had entered Spain without proper authorisation. Some of the material was dumped at clandestine sites, while the rest was exported to non-EU countries.
Thousands of tonnes illegally shipped abroad
The Guardia Civil found that nearly 22,800 tonnes of plastic waste were shipped overseas. The waste was sent to countries including India, Vietnam, Turkey, Brazil, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates. Furthermore, in many cases, authorities allege documents were falsified to make the material appear as raw material or recycled plastic.
Investigations uncover organised criminal tactics
Investigators found links to companies in Almería involved in waste management. Containers were allegedly loaded with waste hidden behind clean plastic bales, intended to mislead inspectors. Moreover, these tactics made it difficult to detect the hidden waste without heavy machinery.
In total, four companies acting as legal fronts for 16 societies were searched. Officers also inspected four other businesses and two homes, seizing extensive documentation. Thousands of tonnes of plastic were found at illegal storage facilities, with help from environmental agencies in Castilla y León and the Comunidad Valenciana.
Cross-border cooperation was key to success
The European Union supported the mapping of illegal sites through its Copernicus Earth observation programme. Asset tracing was managed by Spain’s Asset Recovery Office, which collaborated with authorities in Germany, Switzerland, and the UK.
Judicial authorities issued 21 European investigation orders. Europol and Eurojust coordinated efforts with French and Portuguese counterparts, including the French Gendarmerie and Portuguese Judicial Police.
Spain as Europe´s illegal waste dumping ground