As leading partner of the OPFA-WASTE project, the Italian Carabinieri participated to the EnviCrimeNet Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Madrid on 2-4 March, in quality of Vice-Chair of the network in 2020.
The event represented an excellent opportunity to create synergies among specialized practitioners in the field of environmental crime, in view of the imminent kick start in implementation of the OPFA-WASTE technical components.
The current worldwide industrial setting, characterized by plants not suited to keep up with growing quantities of waste, is determining a progressive raise in its management costs, witnessing the thrive of illegal trafficking and related effects, such as waste fires and export routes diversification. As the problem is deeply affecting the European Region, a strong and coordinated reaction is urgent: the EnviCrimeNet Annual General Meeting was the perfect occasion to analyze these increasingly worrying trends and join efforts.
The AGM appointment in Madrid, as well as the previous one held in Helsinki in November 2019, also provided the chance to boost the visibility of the OPFA-WASTE project, funded by DG Home ISF-Police fund and led by the Italian Carabinieri Corps as part of a consortium that include Romanian Environmental Guard, Latvian Police and SAFE, supported by Europol.
OPFA-WASTE represents a modern initiative aimed at effectively tackling criminality operating in the field of the transboundary illegal waste trafficking. Indeed, it offers support to operational meetings, workshops and the possibility to lease equipment for ongoing criminal investigations, while delivering updated investigative methodologies.
More news and information on OPFA-WASTE activities will be shared both on www.opfawaste-project.eu and @opfawaste on Twitter. Stay tuned!
