Spanish police have dismantled a criminal network accused of exporting hazardous waste to Ghana, officials confirmed on Friday. Three suspects were arrested in Seville and a fourth placed under investigation in Murcia, following the interception of a suspicious container at Algeciras port.
Authorities said the shipment contained 19 tonnes of vehicle engines, fuel tanks tainted with petrol residue, and other oil-soaked industrial debris.
Customs paperwork allegedly failed to match the actual cargo, raising suspicions of document falsification and possible customs fraud, according to the Andalusian regional government.
International law prohibits exporting hazardous waste to nations lacking the necessary facilities for safe treatment and disposal. All four suspects, identified as Ghanaian nationals, face charges of environmental crimes and membership in a criminal organisation.
Environmental groups and Interpol have repeatedly warned that Europe remains a major source of toxic exports disguised as second-hand equipment.
This illicit trade thrives on lax enforcement in destination countries and the high cost of proper waste recycling within the European Union. Critics say such shipments transform parts of Africa into vast dumping grounds for the industrial refuse and obsolete machinery of wealthier nations.
