Spanish police have broken up a criminal group that smuggled over 5 000 tons of hazardous electronic waste from Spain's Canary Islands to several African countries, authorities said on Tuesday.
A man is seen working at a TV recycling scrap yard which is considered as e-waste in Dhaka, Bangladesh on October 30, 2022.Spanish police have broken up a criminal group that smuggled over 5 000 tons of hazardous electronic waste from Spain's Canary Islands to several African countries, authorities said on Tuesday.
Police arrested 43 people suspected of having illegally shipped 331 containers of used electronics to Africa over the past two years, the finance ministry said in a statement. The network allegedly forged customs documents for the exported waste to make it seem that the containers held second-hand goods, in an operation valued at over 1.5 million euros.Africa has become a major dumping ground for discarded electronics from around the world, known as e-waste.
This is often burned to extract minerals such as aluminium and copper that can fetch a high value when resold. Electronic devices and vehicle parts can contain cadmium, mercury, lead, arsenic and other substances that can harm the environment or human health when they are not properly handled.In times of uncertainty you need journalism you can trust. For 14 free days, you can have access to a world of in-depth analyses, investigative journalism, top opinions and a range of features. Journalism strengthens democracy. Invest in the future today. Thereafter you will be billed R75 per month.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Nearly 200 000 traffic fines issued in SA since start of festive season | News24More than 196 000 traffic fines have been issued in South Africa since 1 December, and 4 400 drivers have been arrested for various traffic violations, including drunk driving, speeding and negligent driving, according to the Road Traffic Management Corporation.
Read more »
Record 45 000 migrants made Channel crossing to UK last year | News24More than 45 000 migrants crossed the Channel to the UK from mainland Europe in 2022, surpassing the previous year's record by more than 17 000, according to government figures released Sunday.
Read more »
Over 100 000 traffic fines issued over festive season - RTMCMore than 2 000 motorists have been arrested for driving offences since the start of the festive season travel period on 1 December 2022.
Read more »
Czech farm to cull 220 000 chickens in country's largest bird flu outbreak | News24Czech authorities are preparing to destroy up to 220 000 hens on a poultry farm in the west of the country after bird flu was discovered there last week, in the biggest outbreak to date.
Read more »
Spain sees hottest year on record in 2022Spain in 2022 experienced the hottest year since records began, the country's national weather service said on Monday.
Read more »
JANUARY PARTY : R350,000 for golf with Ramaphosa — ‘We don’t have money, we raise money,’ says ANC’s MbalulaThe ANC’s new Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula was in the hot seat in front of the media on Tuesday, where he justified his party’s costly fundraising activities ahead of the ANC’s 111th-anniversary celebration set to take place in the Free State this weekend. The party will also reconvene its 55th National Conference later this week in a hybrid format after it adjourned at Nasrec in Johannesburg in December 2022.
Read more »