"Whether we're diligent separators or hurl everything in landfill, few people consider that their trash will become treasure for Europe's criminal gangs. But that's the reality across the continent, with the EU's law enforcement agency, Europol, warning that "waste trafficking is intensifying with a projected further growth in scale and sophistication" in their 2025 "Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment." Despite that, Europol refused to answer a series of questions from DW on the matter, citing other priorities."
"Much of this intensification comes from criminal gangs, according to Europol. These operate by finding ways to bypass domestic and commercial waste disposal contracts, exploiting those open to corruption at all stages of the waste disposal process, falsifying documents and crossing borders to take advantage of slacker law enforcement. It is a black market Europol describe as "low-risk high-profit margin" for criminals."
"The issue was highlighted recently by the discovery of an enormous mountain of garbage hidden away close to the Thames River in Oxfordshire, England. On Wednesday, it was reported that the 6-meter (20-foot) high pile contained evidence of waste from schools and local authorities, suggesting abuse of waste management contracts with state institutions and sub-contracted legitimate companies. But this is not a problem limited to the UK."
Europol warns that waste trafficking across Europe is intensifying, projecting further growth in scale and sophistication. Criminal gangs and opportunistic legal businesses bypass domestic and commercial waste disposal contracts, exploit corruption, falsify documents and cross borders to exploit uneven enforcement. The illegal trade yields high profits and low perceived risk, mixing traditional organised crime networks with contractors abusing loopholes and inefficiencies. Recent discoveries include a six-meter pile near the Thames containing waste from schools and local authorities, indicating contract abuse. The EU's anti-fraud office, OLAF, provided an estimate indicating a substantial share of shipments may be affected.
Read at www.dw.com
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