The Spanish Civil Guard is leading a global operation against pollution and illegal waste trafficking, with hundreds of arrests

The Spanish Civil Guard, in its capacity as the driver of the EMPACT priority on environmental crime, and in coordination with Europol, has led a police offensive that has dismantled criminal networks dedicated to waste trafficking across five continents. In Spain alone, the Nature Protection Service (SEPRONA) of the Civil Guard has dismantled 23 illicit waste trafficking networks and carried out operations against the illegal refrigerant gas market, placing SEPRONA at the forefront of European security in addressing the new Environmental Crime Directive.

A global threat: the illegal waste circuit

The illicit trafficking of waste has become a global problem, operating through parallel illegal networks. These criminal organizations not only fraudulently manage municipal and industrial waste, but also systematically resort to document forgery and fraud to move hazardous materials, generating a negative environmental impact and risks to public health.

Among the phenomena detected, the increase in illicit trade of refrigerant gases from Asia and the illegal export from the European Union of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs), textiles and electronic waste (WEEE) to Africa, Asia and Latin America stand out.

The crucial role of the Civil Guard

Operation “Custos Viridis”, led by the Civil Guard and carried out during 2025 with the collaboration of 71 countries and various international organizations, has yielded compelling figures on the magnitude of the environmental criminal market:

• 337 people arrested after 1,048 inspections were carried out worldwide.
• Seizure of 127,149 tons of waste, with an estimated market value of 31 million euros.
• Seizure of 602 tons of pollutants, including mercury, phytosanitary products and greenhouse gases.
• The seizure of nearly 10 million euros in cash and bank accounts, as well as 130 vehicles and properties.

Spain plays a complex strategic role in this network, acting simultaneously as a country of origin, transit, and destination for waste. In this context, the SEPRONA (Nature Protection Service) of the Civil Guard has obtained the following results:

• Execution of 23 specific operations against waste trafficking and the illegal market for refrigerant gases.
• 41 people arrested or investigated to date.
• Detection of the irregular management of 77,410 kilograms of waste.
• Location of 250 illegally imported vehicles and detection of document forgery in more than 3,000 vehicle decontamination certificates.
• Intervention of 5,400 kg of greenhouse refrigerant gases.

The Civil Guard has identified critical entry and exit points, such as the ports of Algeciras, Barcelona, ​​Valencia and Santander, as well as the border crossings of Irún and La Junquera, which are fundamental for controlling the flows towards the rest of Europe and third countries.

The Civil Guard is organizing an international conference to address the illegal trafficking of waste and environmental crimes.

Future challenges demand constant evolution. International cooperation and traceability monitoring throughout the management chain will remain key tools to prevent the environment from being exploited with impunity for the benefit of organized crime.

In this context, the Civil Guard, along with representatives from international organizations such as Europol, Interpol, and the United Nations, is currently participating in a conference in Madrid on combating waste trafficking and environmental crimes. Since yesterday, they have been analyzing tools to fight these illegal activities and addressing emerging phenomena, such as the so-called “smoke bomb” (the dumping of textile waste in rented warehouses) and the alarming recurrence of fires at waste treatment plants as a negligent management practice.