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Seaborne Rubbish, Turneffe Islands, Belize Gregory Norminton

Abandoned Artillery Shells, Cambodia David Higgins

R-12 CFC refrigerant cylinders and boxes shown to EIA investigators at the Ningbo Koman's Refrigeration Industry Company storage facility, Zhejiang Province, China. Ezra Clark/Environmental Investigation Agency

Pollution crime is the handling, transport, trading, possessing and disposal of hazardous wastes or resources in contravention of national and international laws.

Whereas wildlife crime might initially appear to be victimless, pollution crime has a clear and direct human impact due to the hazardous nature of the substances in question. 

Far-reaching damage

As well as being harmful to health, the illegal disposal of waste into waterways, the air, and the ground can significantly damage a community’s livelihood, destroy jobs, and lower property values. The effect of pollution crime on the natural environment can be global, and contributes directly to the worldwide issue of climate change.

This type of crime is an international issue as hazardous waste – especially from more developed nations where it is strictly controlled – can be illegally disposed of in less developed countries, taking advantage of lax or non-existent environmental controls or effective enforcement.

Pollution crime may also result in significant profits for criminals, in some cases totalling millions of dollars. The illegal actions of one company or even one individual can have far-reaching consequences beyond the damage caused by the initial act. A business which violates the law has an unfair economic advantage over a law-abiding one.

Taking action

In today’s global economy there is a need for an international strategy to deal with this type of crime. INTERPOL is uniquely qualified to assist in this effort and to this end has formed, in partnership with its member countries, the Pollution Crime Working Group. This brings together criminal investigators from around the world to share information and develop new strategies in the fight against pollution crimes.

Projects

A number of project teams lead the efforts of the Programme and Working Group in specific areas of pollution crime and develop relevant law enforcement initiatives.

• Climate Change Crime and Corruption

To explore legislative restraints and potential loopholes that may lead to the development of new crime areas connected to the issue of climate change.
Project leader – Julie Lastra
Assistant Director Investigations
United States Environment Protection Agency

• Environmental Forensics

To set up and maintain a network of environmental technical and forensic experts, promote best practices in environmental forensics learnt from the professional community, condense these into a manual and distribute this through the Environmental Crime Programme, NCBs and training sessions.

Project leader – Daniel Horgan
Assistant Director for Investigations
United States Environment Protection Agency

• Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)

To assess the risk for a repeated peak in illegal ODS production and trade, as a result of the upcoming global phase-out of HCFCs. The Pollution Crime Working Group will gather information on this issue and collaborate with the World Customs Organization, which will also start a relevant project.

Project leader – Yannick Pouret
Manager of Intelligence
Environment Canada

• Project Clean Seas

This group developed the state-of-the-art manual on investigating vessel pollution.  Its major focus now is to develop and deliver a training course to law enforcement officers using the manual as a guide.
Project Leader – Annaliese Caston
Principal Advisor
Australian Maritime Safety Authority

• Project on Exportation of Electronic Waste

This is a continuation of the project that concluded a link between organized crime and environmental crime.  It is analysing the illegal networks responsible for shipping thousands of tons of electronic waste, such as used computers, to the developing world.
Project Leader – John Burns
National Enforcement Service
United Kingdom Environment Agency

• Sustainable funding

This group is developing a plan to obtain a level of sustainable funding for the programme.  This will include the placement and maintenance of officers within INTERPOL on a permanent basis.