The **Spanish Civil Guard** dismantled an **international network trafficking plastic waste**. Although it may sound hard to believe, the organization moved over 41,000 tons of material.
The operation, carried out in collaboration with authorities from **France** and **Portugal**, ended with the arrest of several individuals and the seizure of **thousands of tons of plastics**.
Plastic trafficking: an international network dismantled in Spain
The investigation began after detecting suspicious movements of plastic waste **from different countries in Europe to Spain**.
These wastes, mostly agricultural plastics, were transported without proper treatment and with falsified documentation. Once in the territory, they were stored in unauthorized facilities and, in some cases, illegally sent to third countries such as **India, Turkey, and Brazil**.
The origin of the investigation dates back to late 2022 when an **illegal landfill** was located in the Bierzo area, in the province of León.
Over time, the agents found that most of the waste was related to agricultural activities in **France and Portugal**.
They were transported by Portuguese trucks to the Bierzo landfill and other clandestine facilities in **La Bañeza** (same province) and in the Valencian municipality of Alberic, according to the Civil Guard.
The operation counted on the collaboration of **Eurojust, Europol** and authorities from France and Portugal. As highlighted, it was crucial to dismantle the criminal network and ensure that the **perpetrators face justice**.
In total, four companies linked to **16 societies** were registered, in addition to two houses where documentation was seized.
What is the environmental impact of this trafficking and what measures were taken
The illegal trafficking of plastic waste represents a serious threat to the environment. The **lack of proper treatment** of these wastes can lead to soil and water contamination, affecting biodiversity and human health.
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Plastic waste trafficking. (Photo: Spanish Civil Guard).
Generally, **companies and criminal organizations** traffic plastic waste to **avoid the high costs of legal and proper treatment** of these materials.
That’s why they illegally send them to places where processing is cheaper or even non-existent.
Spanish authorities **have intensified controls at borders** and have closely collaborated with international organizations to combat this crime.
