Spanish Civil Guard has successfully dismantled an international criminal network involved in the illegal transport and disposal of 40,000 tons of municipal waste annually from Italy to Spain. According to the Service for the Protection of Nature (SEPRONA), 15 individuals have been arrested, and investigations are ongoing against seven companies. The organization has reportedly earned over €19 million since 2021 through illegal waste disposal activities.
The operation, codenamed “Refiuty,” was launched after evidence of document forgery was discovered in waste shipments entering Spain. The waste was being dumped in landfills without undergoing any treatment. Initial investigations identified several companies in Catalonia and Castilla-La Mancha that were involved in large-scale waste trafficking from Italy.
Authorities revealed that dozens of trucks entered waste management centers controlled by the network, but instead of recycling, the waste was directly dumped into landfills. SEPRONA estimates that the volume of municipal waste transported from Italy has exceeded 40,000 tons annually since 2021.
Italian companies had contracts for municipal waste management but transferred the waste to Spain to cut costs. This practice generated millions of euros in revenue for the criminal network while causing financial losses to the Italian government. The operation violated environmental laws and control systems, which mandate that each country is responsible for managing its own waste.
The criminal organization involved multiple companies between Italian producers and Spanish landfills, staging fake treatment and recycling processes to create the appearance of compliance with regulations. This deception successfully misled Catalonia’s Waste Agency, which issues necessary permits.
As a result, hazardous and toxic waste from Italy, along with other types of municipal waste, was buried daily in landfills in the provinces of Tarragona and Cuenca, posing severe risks to the environment and public health.
SEPRONA conducted five raids on company offices in Lleida, Constantí, Riba-roja d’Ebre (Tarragona), and Almonacid del Marquesado (Cuenca), seizing computer equipment and collecting waste samples for further investigation. Judicial authorities have frozen the bank accounts and properties of the criminals, which were acquired through illegal activities.
The European Union prioritized action against environmental crimes, particularly waste trafficking and illegal wildlife trade, in May 2021. Such crimes are increasing at a rate of 5 to 7 percent annually, ranking as the fourth most significant criminal activity globally after drug trafficking, human trafficking, and counterfeiting.
The operation was carried out under the direction of Court Number 4 in Tarragona, with support from Europol. In 2021, SEPRONA’s General Director, Clemente García Barrios, warned that international waste trafficking could become a major issue in the coming years.
