The European Anti-Fraud Office supported an operation against a network trafficking in hazardous waste.

The European Anti-Fraud Office supported a cross-border operation against a network suspected of trafficking hazardous waste and introducing products derived from toxic ash onto the market under misleading classifications.

The operation, codenamed Coal of the Alps / Carbone delle Alpi, was led by the Prosecutor's Office in Trento and coordinated by the District Anti-Mafia and Anti-Terrorism Directorate, in cooperation with the Carabinieri, Europol, Eurojust, the European Anti-Fraud Office, and national authorities from several states. The network was reportedly active in Italy, Austria, Germany, Croatia, Serbia, and Switzerland.

In short

The operation targeted a network suspected of cross-border trafficking of hazardous waste. Products derived from toxic ash were allegedly sold as "eco-friendly" materials, including briquettes for grilling, fertilizers, and construction additives. Eurojust states that authorities detained 12 suspects and seized a factory. The European Anti-Fraud Office monitored cross-border flows of ash and derived products and facilitated the exchange of information between authorities. The identified substances, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and dioxins, are hazardous to health and the environment.

According to the European Anti-Fraud Office, the investigation uncovered a complex scheme of systematic evasion of European waste legislation. Ash from pyro-gasification processes and derived products were allegedly placed on the European market under misleading classifications.

The office stated that its analytical work and information exchange were essential for mapping cross-border flows of ash and for identifying how a network of interconnected companies operated across multiple jurisdictions. The investigation began in 2022.

Eurojust announced that actions were taken against three Italian companies suspected of illegal waste trading. The companies allegedly processed and sold toxic materials, falsely presenting them as eco-friendly coal for the production of briquettes or fertilizers.

According to Eurojust, the group allegedly obtained illicit profits of hundreds of thousands of euros by transforming ash with highly toxic materials into seemingly eco-friendly products for grilling briquettes, fertilizers, and concrete additives. The group also allegedly traded CO2 quotas and created a network of companies in Europe.

The European Anti-Fraud Office warned that the ash targeted by the investigation was not a simple harmless by-product. According to the institution, it contained high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and dioxins, substances considered dangerous due to their persistence in the environment and serious health risks.

Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is associated with various types of cancer, complications in fetal development, and cardiovascular problems, according to the European Anti-Fraud Office. Transforming ash into consumer or agricultural products could introduce dangerous pollutants into everyday environments, from food preparation to agriculture and infrastructure.

Eurojust states that Italian authorities investigated illegal activities for four years and discovered a black market with links in several European states. International judicial cooperation was established through Eurojust to extend the investigation and coordinate actions in Germany, Austria, and Croatia.

The European agency for judicial cooperation supported the transmission of European investigation orders and European arrest warrants to the relevant states. Europol facilitated police cooperation, and the European Anti-Fraud Office monitored cross-border flows of ash and derived products.

The Director General of the European Anti-Fraud Office, Petr Klement, stated that this case shows how environmental crime and fraud are increasingly interconnected. He asserted that the role of the institution is to ensure that European standards are applied in practice, especially when evasion threatens the safety of citizens and fair competition conditions in the internal market.

The case illustrates why trafficking in hazardous waste is not only an environmental issue but also one of internal market, public health, and economic crime. If toxic materials are reclassified or falsely presented as safe products, the risk does not remain at the place of production but can reach trade, agricultural, and consumer chains across multiple states.

The European Anti-Fraud Office can investigate fraud, corruption, and other acts affecting the financial interests of the European Union, including in areas related to revenue, expenditure, and the correct application of European rules. The institution specifies that individuals targeted by investigations are presumed innocent until a final decision is made by a competent court.