Authorities on France's Reunion Island have dismantled a major hazardous waste trafficking ring, arresting nine people for illegally exporting vehicle scrap contaminated with toxic materials to India.
The operation, which ran for several years, shipped approximately 200 containers of dangerous car waste annually from the French overseas department.
It is estimated to have generated profits of €3.5 million.
Under environmental laws, vehicles must be depolluted before being exported.
“The sheer volume of waste exported from the island to India without proper treatment is concerning,” the public prosecutor's office in Saint-Pierre said.
Those arrested include a prominent local entrepreneur in the vehicle destruction sector, his wife and seven others.
The investigation revealed that the suspects had been hiding dangerous materials with other waste products whose international trade is permitted.
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Global issue
Illegal exports of waste, including electronics and vehicle parts, are not uncommon. Much of this waste ends up in countries in Africa and Asia, where the environmental impact is devastating.
Developing countries often receive vast shipments of waste – both legally and illegally – from wealthier nations. India is a frequent destination for such waste.
French authorities are continuing their investigation into the Reunion-India trafficking network, with further arrests possible in the coming weeks.
The move comes as part of a wider crackdown on international waste trafficking.
In 2023, Interpol reported a 50 percent increase in such operations over the previous two years.
