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Authorities in Spain, France, and Italy, with support from Europol, have dismantled a criminal network trafficking illegal pesticides across Europe, arresting 29 suspects and seizing 26 tonnes of illicit products, officials said Monday.
The group, active since 2020, was based in Italy, Portugal, and Spain, with distribution focused in France. They allegedly earned over €5 million ($5.4 million) by disguising unregistered and expired pesticides as fertilizers or motor oils. Investigators also froze €350,000 ($378,000) in assets.
According to Europol, the organization used legitimate businesses as fronts to traffic unauthorized chemicals, committing environmental crimes, money laundering, and document fraud. The suspects are accused of using falsified documents, foreign banks, and coordinated supply chains to avoid detection.
The probe, led by Spain’s Guardia Civil and conducted in two phases - the first with the help of French and the second with Italian police - revealed a sophisticated network where each member had a defined role.
Authorities say the case underscores a growing trend in the European Union, where more than 85% of organized crime groups exploit legal businesses to traffic illicit goods and launder money. Europol said it continues to target such networks through joint task forces with international partners.
