A man from Uithoorn has been convicted by the Rotterdam court for illegally exporting 18 containers full of plastic waste to Asia and Africa. In these countries, proper waste processing is often lacking, causing the waste to end up in open landfills or to be burned uncontrolled. This leads to serious environmental damage and health risks.
The judge imposed a 5-year administrative ban on the man, preventing him from holding a managerial position within a company. Additionally, he received a conditional prison sentence, a community service of 240 hours, and must repay over €141,000. This is the amount he earned from these environmental crimes.
Collaboration in Detection
The sentence is the result of an extensive criminal investigation by the Intelligence and Investigation Service of the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT-IOD), in collaboration with the Functional Prosecutors Office of the Public Prosecution Service.
His wife has also been convicted: she received a community service of 60 hours for money laundering. Two other suspects received community services of 80 and 150 hours, and three involved companies have been convicted as legal entities and must pay a total of €110,000 in fines.
International Waste Flows Under Scrutiny
The ILT-IOD increasingly sees waste being exported to countries with less stringent environmental regulations, such as in Southeast Asia and Africa. There, supervision is often lacking, allowing harmful substances to enter the environment through air and water. “That the judge recognizes these risks is an important signal,” says an investigator from the ILT-IOD. “The administrative ban for the main suspect helps prevent such practices from recurring.”
Thorough Investigation Since 2019
It took a while before the judge could pass a verdict. Following a report from the waste industry, the ILT-IOD investigated the suspects operations in 2019 and 2020. Sampling showed that the waste consisted of contaminated plastic mixtures for which export is prohibited or requires a permit – which was absent. Several containers have been retrieved to prevent further pollution.
During the investigation, multiple locations were searched, witnesses were heard, and international requests for legal assistance were made to Belgium and Germany. Thanks to this collaboration, the ILT-IOD was able to accurately map the illegal financial advantage.
ILT-IOD: Tackling Environmental Crime
The ILT-IOD conducts criminal investigations into organized environmental crime under the authority of the Functional Prosecutors Office. It often involves international structures and trade flows that, without intervention, lead to irreparable damage to people, the environment, and society.
The environment does not file complaints. Therefore, information from citizens and businesses is crucial. Do you suspect environmental crime? Report this to the ILT-IOD at 070-456 6523 or iod.infodesk@ilent.nl. Anonymous reporting can be done by phone via the Criminal Intelligence Team (TCI) at 070-456 4577.
Read the judgment of the Rotterdam court.