GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

Environmental crime is highly lucrative, but the sanctions are low, and it is often harder to detect than more traditional forms of organised crime.  These crimes present a high risk for the environment, climate and health, and are very harmful to society as a whole. The extent of the problem is clearly demonstrated by waste trafficking, which is characterised by the clear interconnection between criminal actors and legal businesses.

Police Authorities and other relevant security practitioners need new means, both technological and intelligence-based, to prevent and combat illegal environment-related activities, such as illegal waste dumping, waste trafficking and the illegal trade of refrigerants including ozone depleting gases and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Innovative solutions are needed to support Police Authorities and other relevant security practitioners in finding polluting substances intentionally dumped in land and water, in detecting hazardous waste and in having a complete intelligence picture of this type of crime.

Connections with other forms of crime should be tackled too, as well as with other forms of environmental crime, which, similarly to illegal waste, pose a risk to health and society and are also reflected in Commission regulations – illicit wildlife trafficking, forest fires, illegal timber trade etc.

The international dimension, in this topic should be analysed as well, including but not limited to the smuggling processes of illegal waste and refrigerants. Thus, both Police and Border Guards Authorities should be involved in the consortia.