The Illegal Trade in Chemicals

Poland (2019) A shipment of 25 tonnes of illegal refrigerant was intercepted by the authorities in Lodz, Poland. The refrigerant was estimated at a market value of around €600,000. Source: Cooling post (2019) Poland stops huge shipment of illegal refrigerant, 4 April. https://www.coolingpost. com/world-news/poland-stops-huge-shipment-of-illegal- refrigerant/ Portugal (2016) The Food and Economic Security Authority seized 25,000 units of illegal plant protection products. The seizure was part of an investigation carried out in the areas of Greater Lisbon, Oeste and Alentejo. Source: Sapo (2016). Operação da asae apreende 25 mil unidades de pesticidas ilegais, 16 July. https://lifestyle.sapo.pt/ saude/noticias-saude/artigos/operacao-da-asae-apreende- 25-mil-unidades-de-pesticidas-ilegais Spain (2015) Agentsof theNatureProtectionServiceof theCivil Guardarrested 28 people in Operation FRESON against the illegal use of phyto- sanitary products. The agents seized over 10,000 kilos of various substances and a large quantity of phyto-sanitary products. Source: Sur (2015). Detenidas 28 personas por comercio ilegal de pesticidas, 18 April. http://www.diariosur.es/ nacional/201504/18/detenidas-personas-comercio-ilegal- 20150418162226-rc.html Ukraine (2017) The Security Service of Ukraine in cooperation with the Police and the Prosecutor’s Office stopped the production of counterfeit agricultural chemicals in the Kharkiv region. Three illegal workshops and six storage facilities with finished products were uncovered, and a large quantity of equipment and products seized. Source: Security Service of Ukraine (2017). Kharkiv region – SBU stops scale production of counterfeit agricultural chemicals, 11 May. https://ssu.gov.ua/en/news/1/category/2/ view/3316#.CxA8mfRp.dpbs

Ukraine (2018) An illegal import channel for plant protection products from China to Ukraine was blocked during the conduct of an authorized search. Some 139 tonnes of pesticides were discovered and seized. Source: Prosecutor’s Office of Kyiv Region (N/A). https:// kobl.gp.gov.ua/ua/news.html?_m=publications&_c=view&_ t=rec&id=231662 United Kingdom, Ireland (2011) Revenue officers and armed Gardaí seized 160,000 litres of illicit fuel in a series of raids targeting petrol stations. Source: The Journal (2011). Almost 160,000 litres of illicit fuel seized in countrywide raids, 4 November. https://www. thejournal.ie/almost-160000-litres-of-illicit-fuel-seized-in- countrywide-raids-271087-Nov2011/ Brazil (2016) During Operation “Lavoura Limpa”, an organized crime group producing fraudulent agrochemicals was targeted and 23 people arrested. The group carried out production on an industrial scale in collaboration with illegal distributors in ten States. Source: Globo (2016). Prejuízo com fraude do agrotóxico em Franca pode chegar a R$ 100milhões, 16 June. http://g1.globo. com/sp/ribeirao-preto franca/noticia/2016/06/prejuizo-com- fraude-do-agrotoxico-em-franca-pode-chegar-r-100-milhoes. html Colombia (2015) The Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Interpol of Colombian Police dismantled an organization producing 3 tonnes of agrochemicals a week, and selling it to small rice farmers in southern Tolima. Source: HSB Noticias (2015). Cae banda que falsificaba agroquímicos para venderlos a arroceros del Tolima, 25 August. http://hsbnoticias.com/noticias/judicial/cae banda que falsificaba-agroquimicos-para-venderlos-arro-155026 Latin America

The Illegal Trade in Chemicals

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