More than 330 arrested in Europol-led operation against illicit waste trade

MADRID, March 11 (Reuters) - ‌More than ​330 ​people have been arrested across 70 countries in a crackdown on ‌organised crime networks accused of trafficking illicit ⁠waste within Europe and exporting it to Africa, Asia ‌and Latin America, ‌Europol said on Wednesday.

Authorities seized 127,149 metric tons of waste, 602 tons of polluting ​agents along with 75 tons of plant protection chemicals, 2.3 tons of mercury ⁠and nearly 10 million euros ($11.6 million) in cash and bank accounts.

The ​seized waste could have generated illicit profits of at least 31 million ​euros, officials said.

Illegal waste ‌trafficking has become a global problem, operating through parallel criminal circuits, Spain's ⁠Guardia Civil, which co‑led the operation, said.

"These criminal networks not only fraudulently manage urban and ⁠industrial waste, but also systematically resort to document forgery ​and fraud to move hazardous materials, causing negative environmental impacts and risks to public health," it said.

Last ‌year, Spanish police said they had arrested a gang suspected of smuggling ‌more than 40,000 tons a year of ⁠untreated urban waste ‌from Italy to ​Spain.

($1 = 0.8627 euros)

(Reporting by Emma Pinedo; editing by Charlie Devereux and Alex ‌Richardson)

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