The 11 individuals and four companies accused of exporting waste electronic and electrical equipment to West Africa under the biggest Environment Agency investigation into illegal electrical waste exports to date were named in court yesterday (November 11).
Among the bail conditions, four defendants were released on unconditional bail, while two defendants had bail set on the condition as a surety – a third party guarantee on the defendants behalf – of £10,000.
The Agency said the case involves the alleged exportation of waste electrical and electronic items in breach of the Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 2007 and European Waste Shipment Regulations 2006.
The matter was raised last month (see letsrecycle.com story) as part of an investigation launched by the Environment Agency's National Crime Time in mid-2008.
Officers claimed they had uncovered a network of individuals, waste companies and export businesses allegedly involved in the export of electrical waste. In some instances, it is alleged that considerable sums of money changed hands in deals to collect and recycle electrical waste while treatment costs were avoided.
Speaking to letsrecycle.com, Andy Higham, national crime team manager at the Environment Agency, said: “This is an administrative process for a case that started in mid-2008 and also it is the largest case that the Environment Agency investigated for the illegal exportation of waste.”
Mr Highman said that the case was “indicative” of the crime that his team was encountering. He said: “That is the level of criminality we are dealing with, it is that level of serious organised crime that we are looking at.”
Accused
The eleven people involved with the matter under the Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 2007 and European Waste Shipment Regulations 2006, are listed on the Environment Agency website at WEEE case.
The hearing comes six weeks after six shipping lines suspended all exports of used electricals to Nigeria (see letsrecycle.com story).
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