An international law enforcement operation coordinated by Europol has targeted organised crime networks involved in environmental crime and illegal waste trafficking. The coordinated effort brought together authorities from multiple countries to investigate illegal waste shipments and related criminal activities, resulting in significant seizures, including textile waste.

The operation involved inspections, investigations and enforcement actions across several countries, focusing on illegal waste transport and disposal. Authorities uncovered shipments containing different types of waste, including plastics, electronic waste and textile waste, which were being moved across borders in violation of environmental regulations. The investigations also revealed links between waste trafficking and other offences such as document fraud and organised crime activities.

The results highlight the growing scale of environmental crime and the challenges linked to monitoring waste flows across international supply chains. As the EU strengthens efforts to improve waste management and circular economy practices, tackling illegal waste shipments including those involving textile materials remains important for protecting the environment and ensuring responsible handling of waste streams.

For detailed information visit official page of EUROPOL.

To discuss with your peers and industry experts about this topic, please register to the platform and access the dedicated community workspace ‘Sustainable business’ here.