Three people are being investigated through a network of false companies for the illegal storage of 700 tons of waste.
SEPRONA, part of Spain’s police National Guard (Guardia Civil), detected the illegal waste of plastics, PCB circuits, and other waste in the provinces of León, Barcelona, Ciudad Real and Zaragoza.
They are accused of the commission of alleged crimes against natural resources and the environment, falsehood and fraud by illegally storing up to 700,000 kilos (700 tonnes) of waste.
The investigation began when the authorities found waste stored in breach of the requirements without relevant authorisation.
The authorities discovered the storage of more than 300,000 kilograms of plastic waste, PCB circuits and other waste.
Two of the people investigated were associated with up to 12 companies related to waste recycling, with registered offices in Madrid, Toledo, Zaragoza, Valencia, Santander and Ciudad Real. When the authorities investigated these locations, they turned out to be fictitious.
The two people had informed the municipal authorities of different provinces of their plans to build a waste management plant and create jobs, which proved to be false.
The authorities found an estimated 700 tonnes of the waste abandoned in at least three locations.
The third person investigated is the manager of a Barcelona based recycling company dedicated to the recycling, transformation, and revaluation of waste and who disposed of the waste incorrectly.
The authorities found that he had transported and delivered waste to the others being investigated. Passing off the waste as by-products gives them a false value. It avoids the correct management of the waste with significant financial savings.
The Ponferrada Area Prosecutor’s Office coordinated the investigation through the Deputy Prosecutor of Environment and Urbanism. The proceedings were delivered to the Guard Court of Ponferrada (León).
