The Civil Guard dismantled an international network involved in the illicit trade of urban waste, moving hazardous material from Europe to landfills in Spain. The operation targeted waste streams into Zaragoza and Lleida through documents that proved invalid and without proper processing.
As part of the Poubelle operation, authorities announced the arrest or investigation of 19 individuals and 6 legal entities for allegedly belonging to a criminal organization, committing crimes against natural resources and the environment, and document forgery.
Investigations began within the framework of international cooperation on border waste controls after a suspect was flagged for unusual truck movements. The loads consisted of urban waste shipped to Spanish facilities from various European sources.
Initial inquiries revealed a web of interrelated companies linked to South Korea, France, and regions Catalonia and Aragon. Large volumes of European waste were being traded within this network.
Dozens of trucks entered waste management facilities controlled by the organization, yet the actual handling was diverted to a landfill in Zaragoza, undermining the intended process.
Authorities found that by identifying each parcel, prices were quoted and international contracts drafted for urban waste management at prices well below market norms. The Civil Guard estimates that the criminal organization could have earned more than 16 million euros since 2020.
These practices violated environmental laws and control systems, challenging the principle of proximity where each region manages its own waste. It is stated that Spain cannot accept the entry of such waste for disposal in its landfills.
The criminal network created a producer-to-landfill chain, simulating treatments and operations that had never occurred in practice, all while maintaining a veneer of legality.
Tons of waste, including hazardous and toxic materials, are reportedly buried in Zaragoza on a daily basis, causing substantial ecological damage and risk to nearby populations and ecosystems.
Inspection of the Lleida landfill
During the operation, six searches were conducted at residences and offices of registered entities in Fraga (Huesca), Terrassa (Barcelona) and Alcañiz (Teruel).
Authorities seized 10 mobile phones, 6 hard drives, 4 laptops, 9 USB drives, 3 memory cards and various documents, as well as 24,870 euros in cash. Databases and emails of investigated entities and detainees were accessed, and 34 bank accounts used for illicit profits were identified.
An illegal storage site in the Lleida district of Seròs and two waste transport trucks were also inspected, highlighting the scale of operations involved.
The judiciary ordered the detention of two individuals believed to be leaders of the network in Spain and froze five real estate assets along with 15 personal properties, including four cars, five motorcycles and six heavy-waste processing machines.
The operation was led by the Fraga Court of Instruction No. 1 in Huesca and the Environmental Center Operations Unit within SEPRONA, supported by Europol. Other participants included national services from Barcelona, Zaragoza and Lleida, contributing to the broader investigatory effort.
The Civil Guard notes that criminal activity in this domain has shown steady growth, estimated at five to seven percent annually, ranking it among the most significant global offenses alongside drug trafficking, human trafficking and counterfeiting.
Studies estimate the annual revenue of the illegal waste market in the European Union ranges from four to fifteen billion euros, underscoring the difficulty in detecting perpetrators despite the damage inflicted on ecosystems and public health.