Police smash criminal gang peddling used tyres

Spanish police have led a takedown operation on a criminal ring illegally selling used tyres to countries in Africa, America and Europe, contravening waste trafficking laws.

The gang operated out of Spain and are though to have exported more than 200,000 tyres of the last five years, netting estimated profits of €2m. The network acquired the used tyres in Spain and other European countries, particularly where tyres are generally changed early. Once in Spain, the tyres that were meant for disposal were instead sold to low-income third countries to be reused on vehicles. It's not yet clear if the tyres being sold were potentially hazardous.

As a result of the investigations, which were supported by Europol and Ameripol, nine people have been arrested and criminal charges have been pressed against another five individuals under investigation.

“Environmental Crime for the purpose of illicit waste trafficking is a serious offence that results in substantial damages to the environment and generates hundreds of millions of euros in criminal profits,” said Jari Liukku, head of Department of the European Serious and Organised Crime Centre at Europol.

“In the EU, the trafficking of illicit waste is typically carried out by major organised crime groups operating globally with the assistance of legal business structures, corruption and money laundering activities.”